Hologram Brings 'The Nightingale' Back to Life on Mawazine Stage in Rabat

For the second consecutive year, the 'Mawazine World Rhythms' festival in the Moroccan capital Rabat witnessed an exceptional experience that brought the Tarab audience back to the era of fine art. A concert was organized using hologram technology for the late Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez, in the presence of a large audience that filled the Mohammed V Theater on Monday evening.

The concert began with the song 'Ala Baly' written by poet Mohamed Hamza and composed by Baligh Hamdi, one of the rare songs that Abdel Halim sang specifically for the late Moroccan King Hassan II.

It was followed by some of his most beloved songs by Arab audiences for decades, such as 'Awel Marra Teheb Ya Alby', 'Gebbar', 'Balash Etab', 'Asmar Ya Asmarani', and 'Betloumouni Leh', igniting the hall with interaction and enthusiasm with every note.

The audience continued to passionately sing along, especially when clips of 'Gana El Hawa', 'Nar Ya Habibi Nar', and 'Sawah' were shown, making attendees feel as if they were at a real Umm Kulthum concert.

54-year-old Asmaa Laaboudi expressed her amazement with the experience, saying: 'Although I was very young when Abdel Halim passed away, I grew up with his voice and his songs. There is no comparison between his art and what is now called fast-food music'.

Ahmed Al-Omari, 72, expressed his deep emotions about the concert, saying: 'I closed my eyes and truly felt like I was seeing him in front of me... This concert took me years back and brought back the youthful atmosphere for me'.

Despite the great public success of the evening, it was not without controversy, as Abdel Halim Hafez's family in Cairo objected to the concert, considering it was held without their consent, and threatened legal action to protect the rights associated with the artist's name, image, and voice.

On the other hand, the 'Morocco Cultures' association, the organizer of the festival, issued an official statement confirming that they obtained all the necessary legal licenses from the rightful owner of the late artist's rights, allowing them to produce this hologram presentation in accordance with the applicable laws.

It is worth noting that the Mawazine festival continues until June 28th and this year hosts a selection of Arab and international singing stars, including Kazem Al Saher, Majida El Roumi, Najat Aatabou, amid expectations of a large audience turnout throughout the festival days.

Between nostalgia, technology, and art, 'Mawazine' succeeded in bringing the Nightingale Abdel Halim Hafez back to his audience, in an experience that blended emotional past with modern technology, affirming that authentic Tarab never dies.