Hakim becomes the third Egyptian artist to sing at the Olympia in Paris, after Umm Kulthum and Abdel Halim Hafez
By Akram Medhat
Egyptian star and shaabi music icon Hakim will perform a concert promoting Egyptian tourism and antiquities at the famous Olympia in Paris, one of the most important and historic venues in Europe and the world, built in 1888, with the support of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority. The concert is part of Hakim's European tour, announced at a press conference yesterday evening. The tour runs from 15 to 30 September and includes 8 concerts in 3 countries, and Hakim has decided to donate all proceeds to the Tahya Misr Fund, the Magdi Yacoub Foundation and the 500500 cancer hospital.
Hakim's selection to perform at the Olympia is one of the most significant events on the Egyptian and Arab music scene today. He is the third Egyptian artist to take the stage at this world-famous venue, after Umm Kulthum's epic night in 1967, an initiative to support Egypt's war effort, and the 1974 concert by Abdel Halim Hafez, "the Nightingale." Hakim was chosen at a time when most Arab artists are trying to reach this stage, which has hosted France's most celebrated performers, including Édith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Dalida and Jacques Brel.
In earlier remarks, Olympia director Bruno Coquatrix stressed the importance of diversity, reflecting the venue's vision of "openness" to the art and music of the world. The Olympia has presented Björk as well as Madonna and the Rolling Stones, and now presents Hakim, whose art expresses an authentic Egyptian identity that has long drawn audiences of many nationalities around the world.
Hisham El-Demery, chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, praised this serious collaboration with an artist of Hakim's stature and popularity during the press conference. He said the authority believes in the role of art that expresses Egyptian culture and identity in supporting Egypt's image worldwide, and in turn promoting Egyptian tourism at the highest level. The authority will help promote the event more widely abroad to strengthen its tourism message. This support follows Hakim's own initiative to promote Egyptian tourism and improve its image globally.
El-Demery added that the campaign comes at the right time, as the state is making real and sustained efforts to improve the image of Egyptian tourism at international forums, particularly through various artistic events and platforms.
He noted that all proceeds will go to charities in Egypt, through 8 concerts in 3 countries: France, the Netherlands and Spain, all key markets from which the authority aims to attract tourists.
He said promotional materials will be printed for the concerts, pointing out that Hakim has more than 4.5 million followers on social media, which makes any campaign highly influential and far-reaching, hence the decision to support the event and bring it under the authority's umbrella. He stressed the event's importance in improving Egypt's image as a country that exports art and culture, not terrorism and violence, adding that JWT, the agency responsible for Egypt's international campaign, will play an active role after the event.
The organizers also announced promotional campaigns during the tour, with booklets about Egypt and its history to be distributed at every venue, highlighting Egypt's most important archaeological and tourist landmarks.
In his speech, Hakim said: "At every concert I perform on every European stage, I will not miss the chance to deliver an important message encouraging tourism to my country, Egypt, and inviting my foreign fans to visit its landmarks. The tour I'm about to embark on is a golden opportunity to promote tourism in Europe and improve the image of Egypt and Egyptian art worldwide, especially since many international artists do this for their own countries, but I hadn't found any response or encouragement before."
He expressed his pride in working with the Ministry of Tourism on his European tour through folk art, noting that the concerts will feature folk arts that reflect Egyptian heritage, with all proceeds going to charity, following the example set by the late "Star of the East," Umm Kulthum.
Responding to a question from Travel Yalla News about filming music videos at tourist sites, which can be highly effective in boosting tourism, as some international singers have done, Hakim pointed to his song "Efred," filmed more than 15 years ago. He said he is considering a major artistic project: an operetta featuring international artists inside the King Khufu chamber of the Great Pyramid, using no electronic sound effects, only the natural acoustics of the place, which would make it all the more powerful.
Singer Hamid El Shaeri also praised the idea, saying: "Hakim is an honorable image of Egypt, and performing at the Olympia in Paris, one of Europe's greatest stages, is a major event, especially as he is only the third Egyptian singer to do so after the Star of the East, Umm Kulthum, and the Nightingale, Abdel Halim Hafez." He added that the most influential forces in shaping public opinion are the head of state and the media, followed by artists.
Average attendance from each nationality at the concerts ranges from 18,000 to 40,000 people. The concerts will be held in several European cities, including Toulouse, Paris, Roubaix, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Montpellier. Many Egyptian stars are expected to attend in support of the tour's goals, most notably Hussein Fahmy and Khaled El Nabawy, while Dr. Zahi Hawass will accompany the tour as its official ambassador. Leading European channels will cover the event before, during and after the tour.
Concert dates and venues
15 September: Sala Apolo, Barcelona, Spain. Seating about 1,040, it is one of Spain's best-known and most popular venues, where international stars such as Michael Jackson and James Brown have performed.
16 September: Le Transbordeur, Lyon, France, with capacity for up to 1,800 people.
21 September: Melkweg, Amsterdam, Netherlands, holding about 1,500 people.
23 September: L'Olympia, Paris, France, one of Europe's most important venues, holding about 2,000 people.
24 September: La Condition Publique, Roubaix, France, with about 1,200 seats.
28 September: La Fer, Toulouse, France, seating 1,500 to 3,500.
29 September: Le Moulin, Marseille, France, with about 1,500 seats.
30 September: Le Zénith, Montpellier, France, seating 6,000.
