Thekra

Infobox musical artist
Name = Thekra
ذكرى

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Img_capt = Thekra in 2003, a few weeks before her death photographed by Miki
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Thekra Mohammed Abdullah Al Dali
Alias =
Born = birth date|1966|9|16|mf=y
Died = death date and age|2003|11|28|1966|9|16
Origin = Oued El-Lil, Tunisia
Instrument =
Genre = Arab pop music, Classic, Arab Tarab, Khaleeji, Arabic music, Arabesque music, Music of Egypt, Middle Eastern music
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 1980s- 2003
Label = Rotana, EMI, Mega Star, Golden Cassette
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =

Thekra Mohammed Abdullah Al Dali (Arabic: ذكرى محمد عبدالله الدالي; September 16, 1966 – November 28, 2003), better known as Thekra (Arabic: ذكرى also spelled Thikra, Zekra or Zikra) was a Tunisian singer. The word "Thekra" is Arabic for "a memory" or "memorial".

Early life

She was the eighth youngest among her siblings Tawfeeq, Mohsin, Al Sayyidah, Salwa, Al Habeeb, Hajar, Kawthar and Wedaad. She attended elementary school in Wadi Al Lail and later transferred to Al Khaznadar (Arabic script: الخزندار) elementary school to complete her studies.

Career

She started performing at school, her father was very supportive while her mother didn't accept it. After her father's death her mother started to support her as her brothers and sisters did. In 1980, she performed in the TV show "Fan Wa Mawahib" (Arabic: فن و مواهب), which impressed the judges and Ez Al Deen Al Ayyashi noticed her, so she joined the show's chorus. In 1983 she had her first own song composed by "Abdul Hameed Khareef". In the same year, she performed at the Carthage festival.

Later she joined the Tunisian Radio and TV National band, vocal group section and that's when she met "Abdul rahman Al Ayyadi" who composed many of her songs later. At the time Thekra was known with her powerful "voice" and her ability to perform any kind of Arab genres including "Qasa'ed", "Mowashahaat" and "Tarab" songs.

Thekra in Tunisia

During the 10 years before moving to Egypt she released 30 songs in Tunisia 28 of them were composed by "Abdulrahman Al Ayyadi", Some of her hit songs in Tunisia (before moving to Egypt):

* "Liman Ya Hawa Satakoon Hayati Wa Kaifa Sa'Arifo Ma Howa Aati?" (Arabic script: لمن يا هوى ستكون حياتي وكيف سأعرف ما هو آتي?) - For who my life belongs and how should I know how it's will end up?

* "Habeebi Tammin Fo'adi" (Arabic script: حبيبي طمن فؤادي) - My beloved, comfort my heart

* "Ela Hadhn Ommi Yahin Fo'adi" (Arabic script: الى حضن امي يحن فؤادي) - My heart misses my mother's hug

* "Wadda'at Roohi Ma'ah Min Youm Ma Wadda'ani" (Arabic script: ودعت روحي معاه من يوم ما ودعني) - I said good bye to my soul which it's gone with him since the day he said good bye to me

In the year 1990 she had a fight with "Abdulrahman Al Ayyadi" who was Thekra's fiancee at the time because he didn't want any other person to compose to her. That's why she walked away and joined a new group "Zakharif Arabiya"(Arabic script: زخارف عربية) and that was her last station in Tunisia before moving to Egypt.

Thekra in Libya

She didn't move to Egypt directly but she stayed for a while in Libya and released many songs written and composed by great Libyan poets and composers such as "Mohammed Hassan", "Ali Al Kailani", "Abdullah Al Mansoor" and "Salman Al Tarhooni".Her last Libyan release album was the album "Nafsi Azeeza" written by the poet "Salman Al Tarhooni" and that album won best performing and lyrics in Sharm Al Shaikh, Egypt festival.

Thekra in Egypt

After her career in Libya, she moved back to Tunisia for a while but then she went to Egypt and begins her career to be known in the whole Arab World. In Egypt, she met the musician "Hani Mihanna" who produced 2 albums of her and they are "Wehyati Andak" in the year 1995 which was an instant hit in the Arab world, until then she was known in the West side of the Arab world only but after that album she became widely known all over the Arab world. Mr. Mihnna also produced her 2nd and last album with her which was "As'har Ma'ah Sertak" in the year 1997.

Few months later of the year 1997 she released another album with a different producer which was "Al Asami" and in the year 2000 "Yana". Her last release album in Egypt was Youm Aleek in the year 2003 only 3 days before her murder.

Her voice was very powerful and that's made the great composers in Egypt notice her such as "Salah Al Sharnoobi" and "Hilmi Bakir".

Here greatest hits performed in Egyptian Arabic were:
* "Wehyati Andak" (Arabic script: و حياتي عندك).
* "Mish Kol Hob" (Arabic script: مش كل حب).
* "Youm Aleek" (Arabic script: يوم عليك).
* "Bahlam Beloqak" (Arabic script: بحلم بلقاك).
* "Al Asami" (Arabic script: الاسامي).
* "Yana" (Arabic script: يانا).
* "Ya Azeez Aini" (Arabic script: يا عزيز عيني).
* "Law Ya Habeebi" (Arabic script: لو يا حبيبي).
* "Ya Khofi" (Arabic script: يا خوفي).

Thekra in GCC and Gulf region

Thekra performed many songs and album in different Arab dialects including "Khaleeji".

She released many Khaleeji albums and they are:
* Thekra (1998).
* Thekra 2(2002).
* Thekra 3 (2003).
* "Wish Maseeri" (2003)
* "Wa Tabqa Thekra" (2004) released after her death
* "Aghani A'ajabatni" (2004) released after her death

She also performed many duets with Khaleeji singers such as Abo Bakir Salim in the song "Mishghil Al Tafkeer", and duet with Mohammed Abdo in the year (2003). She was going to perform a duet with Abdullah Al Rowaished but she was killed before recording it.

Her greatest hits in Gulf Arabic are:
* "Elain El Youm" (Arabic script: الين اليوم).
* "Wainik Enta" (Arabic script: وينك انت).
* "Ma Feeni Shai" (Arabic script: ما فيني شي).
* "Ahibbik Moot" (Arabic script: احبك موت).
* "Ghayib" (Arabic script: غايب).
* "Al Jarh" (Arabic script: الجرح).
* "Qalaha" (Arabic script: قالها).
* "Hatha Ana" (Arabic script: هذا انا).
* "Al Mesafir" (Arabic script: المسافر).

Death

On November 28 2003, she was murderd by her husband Ayman Al Sowaidi with 16 bullets using a machine gun. He also killed his manager, then committed suicide. Crowds of people and celebrities went out to the streets mourning her death. She was going to be buried in Egypt but Latifa immediately called Hala Sarhan and the prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, the owner of Rotana & the producer of Thekra's last album alive "Youm Aleek", who rented her an airplane to take her to Tunisia.

Tributes from celebrities

After her tragic death, many celebrities from the Arab world flew to Tunisia and Egypt to attend her funeral. Some singers re-performed Thekra's songs in their concerts such as Asalah who performed Thekra's song "Elain Al Youm", Sherine who performed Thekra's song "Mish Kol Hob", Ghada Rajab who performed Thekra's song "Al Asami", Elissa who performed Thekra's song "Bahlam Beloqak".

Latifa did not perform any of Thekra's songs, instead she recorded a Tunisian folklore song called "Fi Al Ghorba" and dedicated it to her, she also dedicated her Murex D'or award for best female singer in the year 2003 to her and asked them to play a reportage about Thekra instead a reportage about her.

Singles

* "Al Hilm Al Arabi" FEAT. others (Arabic script: الحلم العربي).
* "Ommahu" (English: Oh Mam). A trio with Ali Al Hajjar & Moniem. (Arabic Script: أماه)
* "Nihlam Eih?" A duet FEAT. Angham (Arabic script: نحلم إيه؟).
* "Hilmina Al Wardi" A duet FEAT. Mohammed Abdo (Arabic script: حلمنا الوردي).
* "Ya Hajiri" (Arabic script: يا هاجري).
* "Al Asmaraniya" (Arabic script: الاسمرانيه).
* "Baghdad La Tata'allami" FEAT. others (Arabic script: بغداد لا تتألمي).

Videography

* "Ya Khoofi" (Arabic script:يا خوفي).
* "Wehyati Andak" (Arabic script:و حياتي عندك).
* "Al Asami" (Arabic script:الأسامي).
* "Al Hilam Al Arabi" (with other Arab singers) (Arabic script:الحلم العربي).
* "Kol Elli Lamooni" (Arabic script:كل اللي لاموني).
* "Allah Ghalib" (Arabic script:الله غالب).
* "Qalaha" (Arabic script:قالها).
* "Elain El Youm" (Arabic script:الين اليوم).
* "Al Jarh" (Arabic script:الجرح).
* "Atfaal" (Arabic script:أطفال).
* "Wala Arif" (A duet FEAT. Ehab Tawfiq) (Arabic script:ولا عارف).
* "Nihlam Eih?" (A duet FEAT. Angham) (Arabic script:نحلم ايه؟).
* "Youm Aleek" (2003) (Arabic script:يوم عليك).
* "Bahlam Beloqak" (Arabic script:بحلم بلقاك) She shot parts of it before her death but the video was never completed so the idea was changed, it was montaged to make her appear as a ghost.
* "Law Ya Habeebi" (Arabic script:لو يا حبيبي) She shot parts of the clip mentioned above "Bahlam Beloqak" before her death but the video was never completed so the idea was changed, it was montaged to make her appear as a ghost.

Sources

* Al Rayah Qatari newspaper.
* Latifa's official website.