31 Facts About Warda Al-Jazairia

Warda Al-Jazairia was well known for her Egyptian Arabic songs and music.

Warda Al-Jazairia's father, Mohammed Ftouki, was an Algerian from Souk Ahras, and her mother was Lebanese.

Warda Al-Jazairia made her debut at the Tam-Tam, a cabaret owned by her father Located on rue Saint-Severin, in the Latin Quarter, it is home to many famous stars of Arabic song, such as Safia Chamia and Farid El Atrache.

At the age of 11, Warda Al-Jazairia sang in a show hosted by Ahmed Hachlaf, which was broadcast on Paris Inter.

Warda Al-Jazairia recorded it, as did other singers such as Abdel Halim Hafez and Fayza Ahmed.

Warda Al-Jazairia took a ten-year hiatus from music, instead choosing to raise her children.

Warda Al-Jazairia had a daughter named Widad and a son named Riad, who was named after the composer Riad Al Sunbati.

In 1972, at the request of Algerian president Houari Boumediene, Warda Al-Jazairia took part in the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Algeria's independence by performing in Algiers with an Egyptian orchestra.

Warda Al-Jazairia returned permanently to Egypt, where she married the composer Baligh Hamdi.

Warda Al-Jazairia enjoyed great popularity and had the opportunity to work with the greatest Arab composers, such as Helmi Bakr, Riad Al Sunbati, Sadok Thraya, Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Mohammed Al-Mougi, and Sayed Mekawy.

In 1979, Warda Al-Jazairia returned to France to give a recital at the Olympia.

In 1990, Warda Al-Jazairia divorced her second husband, who died in Paris three years later.

Warda Al-Jazairia's career went into eclipse as new musical styles emerged.

Warda Al-Jazairia began to develop health problems, which kept her away from the stage.

Warda Al-Jazairia visited Lebanon in the 2000s to perform at the Baalbeck International Festival.

Warda Al-Jazairia sang there in 2005 and again in 2008, attracting nearly 3,000 spectators.

In 2009, Warda Al-Jazairia took part in the opening night of the 2nd Pan-African Festival in Algiers.

Warda Al-Jazairia performed in Morocco during the 8th edition of the Mawazine, where she sang in front of 30,000 people.

The first song Warda Al-Jazairia recorded in the 1950s was a patriotic Algerian song.

Warda Al-Jazairia later sang songs celebrating the struggle and independence of Algeria, such as Saidouna Ila El Djibal, Min baide, Aid El Karama, Soummam and Biladi Ouhibouki.

Warda Al-Jazairia died on 17 May 2012 at her home in Cairo following a cardiac arrest that occurred during her sleep.

Warda Al-Jazairia's body was flown back to her homeland, Algeria, and she was given a state funeral.

Warda Al-Jazairia's death interrupted the filming of the music video for the song "Eyyam", directed by Mounes Khammar.

The musicologist Daniel Caux considered Warda Al-Jazairia to have possessed all the qualities necessary for a singer from the Arab world.

Warda Al-Jazairia emphasized the accuracy of her intonation, her sense of rhythm and her mastery of nuances, in particular, which he thought enriched her singing.

Warda Al-Jazairia was one of the few singers renowned throughout the Arab world, from the Maghreb to the Mashriq.

Warda Al-Jazairia is considered a "diva" of Arab song, in the same way as Umm Kulthum, Sabah, and Fairuz.

On 30 November 2019, a concert in tribute to Warda Al-Jazairia was organised by the Ensemble Mazzika and the Lebanese singer Ranine Chaar at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris.

Warda Al-Jazairia was a gourmet cook, and did not let being a Muslim stand in the way of using wine in cooking.

In November 2004, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Algerian Revolution, Warda Al-Jazairia was awarded the El-Athir Medal of the Order of National Merit.

Warda Al-Jazairia has appeared in several film and television productions, including:.