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Arab pop stars raise funds for Darfur
الأحد, نوفمبر 25, 2007 // 0 التعليقات // Arabic Digest // Category: Sherine //KHARTOUM - Arab pop stars descended on Khartoum this week to perform concerts to aid war-torn Darfur, in a show of solidarity with the millions of people caught in the conflict in western Sudan.
While Hollywood stars have been lobbying for years on Darfur, this was the most high-profile attempt by Arab artists to help those suffering more than four years of conflict between Darfuri rebels and the central government, which has forced 2.5 people million from their homes.
Sudan rarely enjoys visits from pop artists.
The week-long set of concerts will host stars like Sherine, Hani Shakir, Mounira Hamdi and Mohammad Mounir.
The concerts, organised by the Moroccan-based National Council for Arab Culture (NCAC), hope to raise enough funds to build 10 schools, 10 hospitals and 50 wells in Darfur.
"We want to send the message that we Arabs and Africans can help ourselves," organizer Bushra Mahdi said.
The idea, he explained, was to "encourage Arabs and Africans to contribute in alleviating the suffering of the people of Darfur."
'FORGIVE US'
Egyptian artist Hani Shakir apologised for not having done more earlier. "We have been very late as Arab artists. Forgive us," he told reporters before his show.
The campaign, which will continue in other Arab and African countries, kicked off on June 3 with Mohammed Mounir.
The final performance in Khartoum is on Friday with Egyptian songstress Sherine.
Tunisian Hamdi opted for the more conservative traditional Sudanese "toub" for her performance -- the first time she'd worn the long cloth which loosely covers the whole body, she said.
Hundreds of people turned up for Mounir's concert, despite the price for the tickets: 100 Sudanese pounds (25 pounds). The artists agreed to be paid a lower rate for the concerts.
"Let us consider it a contribution; part of our zakat (alms-giving) as Arabs and Muslims," Shakir said.
Nearly 1,000 showed up for Shakir's show and even more crowds were expected for Sherine's appearance.
Source : middle-east-online
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