50 Facts About Najwa Karam

Najwa Karam is a Lebanese multi-platinum singer, actress, songwriter, and fashion icon.

Najwa Karam has gained an international audience due to her distinct blend of traditional Lebanese music and contemporary sounds which has contributed to the spread of the Lebanese dialect in Arabic Music.

Najwa Karam was named to Forbes 50 Over 50: Europe, Middle East And Africa 2023.

Najwa Karam continues to frequently perform throughout the Arab world and internationally.

In 2011, Najwa Karam debuted as a judge on the reality competition television series Arabs Got Talent; she has since appeared on all six of its seasons.

Najwa Karam rose to stardom throughout the 1990s, earning the moniker Shams el-Ghinnieh, from her eponymous album.

Najwa Karam frequently worked with the renowned musician and composer Melhem Barakat and collaborated with the legendary singer, Wadih el Safi on their critically acclaimed 2004 duet titled, W Kberna.

In 2011, Najwa Karam collaborated with Sony Entertainment and Rotana to produce the Arab World's first 3D music video for her song, "Ma Fi Noum" from her record Hal Layle.

In 2012, Najwa Karam walked the Red Carpet at the 65th Cannes Film Festival.

Najwa Karam has since released well-received singles and music videos as well as her latest studio album, Menni Elak, in 2017.

Najwa Karam Karam was born in Tripoli, Lebanon to a family of Lebanese Melkite Christians.

Najwa Karam is the youngest daughter of Karam Karam and Barbara Chahine Karam.

Najwa Karam has an older sister, Salwa, and three older brothers, Tony, Jean, and Nicolas.

Najwa Karam spent her childhood in Zahle, under the care of her parents and older brothers.

From an early age, Najwa Karam was known among her friends and relatives for her powerful singing voice.

Najwa Karam's parents emphasized the need for an education and a stable career, so Karam attended secondary school at Jesus the Angel College.

Najwa Karam worked as a Geography and Arabic teacher at Eastern College in Zahle, Lebanon, for two years.

The next year, in 1993, Najwa Karam signed with another record label for her new album.

Najwa Karam's fortunes took a turn for the better when she was approached by the Middle East's largest recording label, Rotana, owned by the Saudi Arabian Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.

An agreement between the parties was made, and Najwa Karam was now on Rotana's roster.

Expert poets, writers, and composers were enlisted to help Najwa Karam make a fresh new musical image for herself to revitalize public interest and draw attention from the wider Arab audience.

Najwa Karam had been thrust to the top of the Arabic music scene in less than a year, and was now constantly in the public eye.

Najwa Karam found a number of fans in the US, and performed many successful sold-out concerts.

Rotana set up a large launch party in Downtown Beirut, where over fifteen thousand of Najwa Karam's fans packed the streets, waiting for her to appear and sing her new material.

Saharni was the kind of album that was a rebirth of the "old Najwa Karam", and took the public by surprise, as they had at this point come to expect contemporary pop from the Shams el-Ghinnieh.

Not only had Najwa Karam's music changed, but she sported a new look, which further emphasized that the album was a turnaround.

Najwa Karam made a world tour to complement Saharni's success, taking in the Middle East as well as destinations such as France and the US with Wadih el Safi.

Najwa Karam was presented with a number of awards and achievements in 2003.

Najwa Karam continued her many live appearances to promote the album, and a notable event for 2004 was her sell-out concert in Carthage, Tunisia where she performed to thousands of enthusiastic fans.

Najwa Karam defended herself by putting the claim on her Saudi production company, Rotana, who she says fast-tracked the release against her wishes.

On 6 September 2005, Najwa Karam released the video for Bhebak Walaa, directed by Salim el-Turk.

In mid April 2006, Najwa Karam released a third and last single from the Kibir'el Hob album, accompanied by a video clip, and proved to be among the most popular Arabic songs of the year 2006.

Hayda Haki was the next song that Najwa Karam shot as a video clip with Lebanese director Said el Marouk.

Najwa Karam was a guest on the show Album on MBC 1.

Najwa Karam toured the United States and Canada with Lebanese Stars Wael Kfoury and Fadel Shaker, the tour lasted for a little more than a month as they visited major cities and was all success.

Najwa Karam sang one of her old mawal "Wainak Ya Ra3i Deni" aka "Mawal El Adyan" and it achieved huge success.

Najwa Karam shot a 3rd video clip from her successful album "Aam Bimza7 Maa" called "Taa Taa Khabik".

In February 2009, Najwa Karam attended one of the Middle East's most important concert, Hala Febrayer 09 in Kuwait.

Najwa Karam performed a mixture of old and new songs for the very active crowd.

In May 2009, Najwa Karam traveled to Morocco to perform at the Mawazine Festival 2009.

Najwa Karam said, "it's full of folkloric, balady songs, similar to Saharny and her 90s releases".

Najwa Karam was a guest performer on Star Academy 6's final prime.

Najwa Karam then appeared on Layali El Samar on 25 March 2010 on ABU DHABI TV.

Also, Najwa Karam was the guest star on Taratata, Dubai TV, and soon after she appeared on the TV show Akher Man Ya3lam.

On 7 May 2010, Sawt El Ghad Radio, Beirut, started playing Najwa Karam's new hit "Bil Rou7, Bil Dam".

The new hit single was the first song of Najwa Karam's that was produced directly out of Rotana in 17 years.

The song, along with its video clip, which featured in it the Guinness world record for the largest plate of tabbouleh, sponsored by Najwa Karam, were well received and reached great success.

Najwa Karam wore the beaded full spider-web bodysuit, designed by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad, that was later worn by Jennifer Lopez, in her music video, "On the Floor".

Najwa Karam reiterated in interviews the meaning and significance of the "Doum Tac" music notes and her reasoning behind their usage.

The spread of the album was a reason for Najwa Karam to enter the list of the most listened to singers on Yotta radio in Japan and topped the Malaysian Akshak magazine cover.