Yemen first in the 2008 Arabic Radio Song and Music Festival

(R-L) Abbas al-Dailami radio Sana’a director, Hasan al-Lawzi information minister and Abdullah al-Zalab General director of Radio and TV Corporation during the opening ceremony.

Promoting a sense of tolerance and brotherhood was the aim of the Eighth Session of the competition entitled “Arabic Radio Song and Music Festival of 2008,” held last week in Sana’a over four days. 

The festival aims at connecting Arab media together to promote and uplift issues related to the Arab world. Various kinds of Yemeni songs from different governorates were played during the festival, in which 22 Arab countries took part. The first prize was $3,000, the second $2,000 and the third $1,500.   “By celebrating Arabic songs and music we assure our determination to keep our arts and culture in the minds of all generations,” said Hassan al-Lozii, Minister of Information. “Competitions are a clear path to encourage creativity and access the highest levels, which is what we all aspire to through the establishment of such competition.” 

“The preparatory committee received more than 14 songs from different Arab countries and even more from the center of the Arab Radio Union,” Abass al-Dilmi, the director of Sana’a Radio and the chief of the preparatory committee told Saba News Agency, pointing out that all competitive works will talk about one topic regarding tolerance and love among nations. 

The Yemeni poet Abdul-Kareem al-Washli and other poets from Jordan, Tunisia, Qatar and Algeria took part in the preparative committee, according to al-Dilmi. “All works will be broadcasted via Sana’a Radio and other Arab Radios at the same time, starting form Thursday evening until the announcement of the winners” added al-Dilmi.

Part of the large audience listening to the competing songs.

Yemen ranked first in radio for the song written by Abass al-Dilmi, tuned by Ahmed Bin Ghoudal, and performed by Najeeb Saeed. Sudan ranked second, whilst Libya ranked third.  Such festivals help promote arts and their role in encouraging the values of tolerance and closeness between different nations, said Mohammed al-Maflihi, Minister of Culture. He emphasized the importance of such competitions, which connect creative and educated people in the Arab world.   This festival, which was organized by the Arab Broadcast Union, is usually held in the capital of Algeria every two years. In 2004 it was first held in Yemen, which ranked second in the competition on that occasion. 

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