Closing of “Summer Cultural 18”: Kuwait in the Eyes of Arabs
The activities of the 18th edition of the Summer Cultural Festival concluded the day before yesterday on the stage of the Drama Theater at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center. The festival, which launched on August 5 with a musical evening titled “Arab Stars Singing for Kuwait,” was performed by artists Abdulaziz Al-Musbah and Saud Al-Faiz, accompanied by a musical orchestra led by Maestro Dr. Mohammed Al-Buainain.
Following the national anthem, a documentary film featuring several Arab singers, including Fairuz, Fared Al-Atrash, and Umm Kulthum, was screened. In the film, they spoke about Kuwait and Kuwaiti music and its arts. The host, Khaled Bandar, welcomed the audience, invoking the broader meaning of culture: one that does not merely organize events, but preserves memory, bridges distances, and gives new generations the opportunity to listen to the story of a nation, of which art has written part of its details.
The evening, attended by Dr. Mohammed Al-Jassar, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters; Aisha Al-Mahmoud, Assistant Secretary-General for Cultural Affairs; and Muassad Al-Zamil, Assistant Secretary-General for Financial, Administrative, and Support Services, felt more like a journey through the archive of Kuwaiti and Arab song. Al-Musbah and Al-Faiz revived musical works associated with Kuwait, performed by stars from different generations, making the theater seem to open old doors to an era whose melodies remain present in the collective consciousness.
Abdulaziz Al-Musbah began his set with “Bismillah” by Fared Al-Atrash, with lyrics by Fathi Qoura, before moving to “Salou Al-Kaab Al-Husna” by Badi’a Sabri, with lyrics by Ahmad Al-Adwani and music by Ahmad Al-Zanjari. Al-Musbah continued the journey with “Ya Banat Al-Madina” by Uliya Al-Tunisiya, with lyrics by Youssef Nasser and music by Marzouq Al-Marzouq, before reaching “Ya Hali” by the Nightingale Abdel Halim Hafez, with lyrics by Walid Jaafar and music by Abdulhamid Al-Sayed.
As for Saud Al-Faiz, he chose to continue digging into memory, presenting “Nasi Ayyamna” by Fawziya Akif, with lyrics by Abduljalil Hassan and music by Abdulrahman Al-Buainain, followed by “Adari Wa Al-Hawa Namam” by Najwa Salam, with lyrics by Ahmad Al-Adwani and music by Hamad Al-Rajeb. He then performed “Taj Hasanak” by Houria Sami, with lyrics by Mahboub Sultan and music by Abdulaziz Mohammed, culminating in “Ya Sahil Al-Fintas,” sung by Najwa Al-Sagheera, with lyrics by Ahmad Al-Adwani and music by Hamad Al-Rajeb.
The evening concluded as fitting for a night that evoked the memory of singing in Kuwait, with a duet uniting Al-Musbah and Al-Faiz in “Ya Darana Ya Dar” by Umm Kulthum, with lyrics by Ahmad Al-Adwani and music by Riyad Al-Sunbati.
Apology by Adel Al-Mas
Despite announcements by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters via its social media accounts that three singers would participate in the evening—Adel Al-Mas, Abdulaziz Al-Musbah, and Saud Al-Faiz—the audience was surprised by the absence of singer Adel Al-Mas. Following up with the organizers of the event, they stated that he apologized due to his health condition. Wishing him well and hoping he sees no harm.
