Najwa Karam

Lebanese singer (born 1966)

Najwa Karam (نجوى كرم, ; born 26 February 1966) is a Lebanese multi platinum singer songwriter, producer, fashion icon, and TV personality. Nicknamed Shams el Ghinnieh ("The Sun of the arabic Song"), Karam is noted for her powerful Mawwal skilled vocals. She 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. Having sold tens of millions of records, Najwa Karam is the best selling recording Arabic language singers. She has sold over 60 million records worldwide, and she became the highest selling artist in 1999, 2008, and 2011. In 2023, Karam boasts a social media following of nearly 40 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and X. Karam was mentioned on Forbes 50 Over 50: Europe, Middle East and Africa 2023. She continues to frequently perform throughout the Arab world and internationally. In 2011, Karam debuted as a judge on the reality competition television series Arabs Got Talent; she has since appeared on all six of its seasons. In 2020, she appeared as a coach on the first season of MBC's The Voice Senior. In 2017, Forbes Middle East ranked Karam number 5 on the list of "The Top 100 Arab Celebrities" with over 26.58 million social media followers at the time. In 2018, Cosmopolitan included Karam on their list of "The 15 Most Inspiring Women In The Middle East", and Forbes included her on their list of the "Top 10 of Arab Stars On The Global Stage". In 2021, she was named to Forbes Middle East’s Arab Music Stars list 50 of MENA’s most streamed and followed active musicians. In 2012, Karam walked the Red Carpet at the 65th Cannes Film Festival. She has since released well received singles and music videos as well as her latest studio album, Menni Elak, in 2017. In 2019, Karam's single, Maloun Abou L Echeq, became a commercial and critical success with its music video becoming one of the highest viewed Arabic music videos on YouTube.

Najwa Karam Karam was born in Zahle, Lebanon to a family of Lebanese Melkite Christians. She is the youngest daughter of Karam Karam (who died 7 September 2013) and Barbara Chahine Karam. She has an older sister, Salwa, and three older brothers, Tony, Jean, and Nicolas (who died 28 February 2017, aged 58). Karam spent her childhood in Zahlé, under the care of her parents and older brothers. From an early age, Karam was known among her friends and relatives for her powerful singing voice. Her parents emphasized the need for an education and a stable career, so Karam attended secondary school at Jesus the Angel College. Then, she went on to earn a bachelor's degree in philosophy. Karam worked as a Geography and Arabic teacher at Eastern College in Zahlé, Lebanon, for two years. Even though she started her career as a teacher, Karam remained interested in music. In 1985, against her father's wishes, she participated in a television singing competition called "Layali Lubnan" (Lebanese Nights). Showcasing her powerful vocals through the traditional Lebanese Mawwal, Karam won the first place, Gold Medal, along with modest public exposure and her father's approval. Following her success, Karam studied at the Lebanese Institute of Music for four years. During this time, she was mentored by the two famous Lebanese composers, Zaki Nasif and Fouad Awad. In 1987, she participated in another television contest named Laylat Haz, where she gained greater exposure that would prepare her for her first attempt at breaking into the Arabic music industry in 1989.

In 1989, Karam's first studio album, Ya Habayeb, was released by a then little known record label, Relax in International. The album contained seven tracks, all in the traditional Lebanese traditional/folkloric style. Due to her previous exposure to the Lebanese public, the album was well received in Lebanon but did not receive much attention from the rest of the Arab world. After a three year hiatus from music making, Karam returned to the scene with her follow up album, Shams el Ghinnieh. The album title was inspired by her nickname, "Shams el Ghinnieh" ("sun of the song"). This nickname was given to her by the Lebanese people and media because of her vocal abilities. The album was recorded by another small record company, CM. The style of the album was more romantic and contemporary, in comparison to Karam's debut album, Ya Habayeb, which was more traditional. Shams el Ghinnieh was received very well by the Lebanese public.

The next year, in 1993, Karam signed with another record label for her new album. This time it was an even less known Saudi Arabian company. The new album was called Ana Ma'akon ("I am with you"), not reflecting Karam's artistic identity. The album was classic in style and quite different from Shams el Ghinnieh. Despite her discontent, she had no choice but to release it, bound by a contract with her production company. As expected, the album failed to do as well as Shams el Ghinnieh. Poor marketing and lack of resources did not help much either and were blamed for the low sales of the album. It remains Karam's least known album.

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 Karam was now on Rotana's roster. Work on a new album began immediately. Expert poets, writers, and composers were enlisted to help Karam make a fresh new musical image for herself to revitalize public interest and draw attention from the wider Arab audience. By mid 1994, an album consisting of eight new songs had been compiled and was ready to be released to the Middle East. Naghmet Hob (The Rhythm of Love) fused Lebanese tradition with Arab pop. Its catchy Lebanese dance song "Law Habaytek" ("If I Loved You") was an instant hit, introducing Najwa Karam to all of the Middle East. The song and its video clip dominated the Arabian charts. Its follow up hits from the same album were "Wrood Eddar" ("Roses of the Garden") and "Elala" ("La La"), which received similar success. The wide success of Naghmet Hob gave Karam a chance to do a concert tour and attain a number of awards, including a prize from the Lebanese Broadcasting Association for the Best Artist of 1994. 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. In 1995, she started work on her second Rotana album, her fifth release in total. It was titled Ma Bassmahlak and closely followed the traditional style of Naghmet Hob. The main difference was the lyrical and vocal nature of the tracks which had more depth. Riding the wave of her celebrity, two of the songs were hits, namely "Ma Bassmahlak" ("I Won't Allow You") and "Hakam el Qady" ("The Judge Has Spoken").

With five albums under her belt, the latter two of which witnessed groundbreaking success, Karam has a become familiar face in the Arabic music industry. On 16 June 1996, she released her newest album entitled Hazi Helo ("I'm Lucky"). The title track, "Hazi Helo" and three other songs, "Khayarouni", "Ala Mahlak" and "El Ghorbil", were the most popular from the album. Following the release of Hazi Helo, Karam set off on a large scale world concert tour, which would take in many Arab states, parts of Europe, and America. She found a number of fans in the U. S. and performed many successful sold out concerts. To honor her success in the US Karam was presented with the Key to the City of Chicago.

Year Awarded by Category Notes 1985 Layali Lubnan Gold Medal First Place 1994 Lebanese Broadcasting The Best Singer 1995 Lebanese Broadcasting The Best Singer 1995 LaRami. com The Most Famous Singer 1996U. SAmerican Citizenship 1996U. S Key to the City of Chicago 1996 Jordan Jerash Festival Award 1996 2nd Orbit Festival Award 1996 LaRami. com The Most Famous Singer 1997 Tunis Carthage Festival Award 1998 Oman Masqat Festival Award 1998 Egypt Best Female Singer In Arab World 1998 Germany Key to the City of Düsseldorf 1998 Canada Arab Communities Festival Award 1998 Libya Alfatih Festival Award 1999 Australia Arab Communities Festival Award 1999 Lebanese Army Honorary Award 2000 Tunisia Carthage Festival Award 2000 Tunisia Alzahra City festival Award 2000 Agence France Presse (AFP) Pronounced As "Lebanese Diva" 2001 Qatar "Doha Arab Song" Festival Award 2001 Kuwait Hala February Festival Award 2001 UAE Layali Dubai Festival Award 2001 Lebanon Murex D'or award for The Best Arabic singer 2001 Lebanon Best Singer from Lebanese Radio Stations 2001 Rotana Artist of the year 2001 Rotana Album of the Year: Nedmani 2001 Rotana The highest selling album: Nedmani 2001 Al delta, Almahabi, Almeraj, Jabal Lebanon & Sawt El Musica Awards 2002 Aley Festival Award 2002 Lebanon Tyre Festival Award 2003 Rotana Highest selling album: Saharni 2003 Lebanon Tyre Festival Award 2003 Lions Best Singer of the Traditional Lebanese Songs 2003 Lebanon Faraya City Award 2003 Jordan Jarash Festival Award 2003 Sawt El Ghad Australia Song of the Year: Edhak Lil Donya 2003 Australian Government Honorary Award 2004 Kuwait Hala February Award 2004 Tunisia Carthage Festival Award 2004 Lebanon Zahle City Award 2004 MusicanaNet. net Female Artist of the Year 2005 Rotana Arabic Singer of the Year 2005 Sawt El Ghad Australia Song of the Year: Bhebak Walaa 2006 Sawt El Ghad Australia Shu Hal Hala marked #4 in Top 100 songs 2007 Qatar Doha Festival Award 2007 Kuwait Hala February Award 2007 Jordan Jerash Festival Award 2007 Canada The Best Female Singer in the Middle East 2007 Mosaqiue Fm Best Album of the Year: Hayda Haki 2007 Zahrat Al Khaleej Yearly Survey Most Popular Female Singer #1, Best Female Singer #2 2008 Tunisia Queen Of Carthage 2008 Software Times Award The Best Arabic Singer 2008 LE Music Choice The Best Lebanese Song: Am Bimzah Maak 2008 Al Sarih Magazine The Best Arabic Singer 2008 Zahrat Al Khalig The Best Arabic Singer (receiving 90%) 2008 Stars Magazine #1 The Best Album: Am Bimzah Maak One of the most selling albums: Am Bimzah Maak (with Rotana Records) 2009 Melody FM Najwa Karam Best female singer 2009 Al Jaras TV "Khallini shufak" Best Album for the year Best Female singer for the year 2009 Hiya TV Najwa karam best female singer of the year, program: Top of the Tops "Khallini shufak" Best Album for the year receiving 64% 2009 IRAQ Radio FM Najwa karam best female singer for the year (97%) "Khallini Shoufak" best selling album in Iraq 2009 El Madina FM Best Female Singer for the year (31.0%) 2009 Zahrat El khalij Best Female Arab Singer for the year 2011 Virgin Records "Hal Leile MaFi Noum" Number 1 on Charts 3 Days after release 2011 Sony "MaFi Noum" First 3D Music Video in the Middle East 2011 Jerash, Jordan Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts Award 2011 7asriyan. com Best Lebanes Female Singer of 2011 2011 Bahr el Nojoum Best Album of 2011 (Helleileh Ma Fi Nom) 2011 Bahr el Nojoum Most Concerts in the Middle East 2011 2011 Zahrat Al Khaleeg Magazine Best Arabic Singer of 2011 2011 Music Master Best Female Arabic Singer of 2011 2011 Music Master Best Arabic Album of 2011 (Helleileh Ma Fi Nom) 2011 Music Master Best Television Interview of 2011 (Special Najwa on MTV/Rotana Music) 2011 Music Master Queen of Concerts of 2011 2011 Best oF The best Best Arabic Album of 2011 (Helleileh Ma Fi Nom) 2011 Music My Life (Mml) Best Singer for the Year 2011 2011 Radio Balad Palestine Best Singer for the Year 2011 2011 Radio Balad Palestine Best Video Clip for the Year 2011 (Ma Fi Nom) 2011 Radio Balad Palestine Best Female Album for the Year 2011 (Helleileh Ma Fi Nom) 2011 Music Master Best Looking Artist Wearing a Crowm (from: Aam Bimza7 Maak clip 2008) 2011 Bisara7a Best Artist 2011 – Najwa Karam [52% (28537 votes)] 2011 Bisara7a Best Album 2011 – Halleileh Ma Fi Nom [48% (44356 votes)] 2011 Bisara7a Best Video Clip 2011 – Ma Fi Nom (Directed by Walid Nassif) [44% (48541 votes)] 2011 Municipality of Zahle Najwa Karam St. Inaugurated 2012 L'Oréal First Arab Ambassador of l'Oréal 2012 Cannes film festival First Arab singer to appear on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet 2012 Tunisia Carthage Festivals Awards 2013 Jordan Jerash Festivals Awards 2013 Morocco \ Rabat Miss Mawazine International Festivals 2013 Arabian business 56th most powerful woman in the Middle East 2014 Jordan Jerash Festivals Awards 2014 USA \ Detroit The Most Famous Singer 2014 Algeria Djemila Festival Awards 2016 Dubai \ UAE NDU Awards 2016 Arabian business 98th most powerful woman in the Middle East 2016 Brussels Ambre Festival best middle east live performer 2016 World of Fashion Middle East fashion icon 2016 Jordan Jerash Festivals Awards 2016 Tunisia Carthage Festivals Awards 2017 United States Of America Amideast Awards Best Female Singer In Middle East 2017Forbes Middle EastTop 5 on the list of the Top 100 Arab Celebrities2018Cosmopolitan MagazineOne of 15 Most Inspiring Women In The Middle East