Naama (singer)

Naama
Background information
Born	February 23, 1934 (1934-02-23) (age 77)
Origin	Tunisia
Genres	Arabic music, Tunisian music
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1958–1998

Naama (Arabic: نعمة‎) (born February 23, 1934 in Azmour) is a distinguished Tunisian singer. Born Halima ECheikh (Arabic: حليمة الشيخ‎)in Azmour, she was named "Naama" (meaning a godsend in Arabic) by the Master Tunisian composer Salah Al Mahdi. Naama became her stage name which she kept until she retired in late 90's.

Biography

Halima ECheikh, later known as Naama, was born on 23 February 1934 in Azmour, in the North of Tunisia into a conservative family. After the divorce of her parents, she lived with her mother between Azmour and the capital city Tunis.

She frequented the residence of Bechir Ressaïssi, the boss of the record label Baïdaphone, where there were regularly held the rehearsals of the major Tunisian singers back then. She got married at the age of 16. She has two sons : Hichem and Tarek and a daughter : Henda. In the mid 50's, she joined the Rachidia (Conservatory of traditional Tunisian music). Upon hearing her voice, Salah Al Mahdi named her Naama(a godsend in Arabic), which became her stage name. In 1958, she joined the Tunisian Radio as a soloist and gained immediate fame in Tunisia. Rapidly her fame spread to Algeria, Libya and Morocco and she held several concerts there. She was the muse of several major Tunisian composers such as: Mohamed Triki, Salah Al Mahdi and Chedly Anouar. Her repertoire comprises more than 360 songs in all themes and in different genres, ranging from folk to classical Tunisian music and popular songs... She sang poems of major Tunisian poets such as Mohamed Boudhina, Ahmed Khaireddine, Mahmoud Bourguiba, Mostfa Khraief and Mnawar Smadah... She also sang a poem of Nizar Qabbani "taloumony donia".

Sources

Mohamed Bouthina, « Naâma. The eternal voice» Tunis, 1997.

Hamadi Abassi, « Naâma. La fille d'Ezmour », Saisons tunisiennes, 27 juillet 2007

http://www.saisonstunisiennes.com/articles/naama/

Persondata
Name	Naama
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1934-02-23
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death