Algerians say last Goodbyes to their Beloved Icon Warda Al Jazairia

Algeria said the last goodbye on Saturday to its faithful daughter and fragrant rose, who devoted her life to art and to uphold the name of her country, after she worked hard to achive a legendary place in the Arab World, which exceeded in many times that of presidents and princes, and other Arab icons in art and singing, who left a large gap in the Arab world of singing and Tarab, when they passed away.

In a majestic atmosphere, featured by grief and sorrow for the loss of the Princess of Arab Singing and Tarab, Warda Al Jazairia was burried Saturday amid the presence of large crowd, led by the Minister of Culture, Khalida Toumi, the General Manager of the National Office for Culture and Media, Lakhdar Bentourki, the Minister of Communication, Nacer M’hal, the Advisor to Morocco King Muhammed VI, the only country which sent a representative to present condolences to Algeria, along with the a delegation of the Palestinian embassy in Algeria, the former director of Algerian Television, who is currently Algeria’s Ambassador to Romania, Hamrawi Habib Chawki, and Algerian artists and elite including, the former Minister of Communication, Azzeddine Mihoubi, Amine Azzawi, Mohieddine Amimour, Suleiman Bakhlili, Fulla Al Jazairia, Naima Ababsa, Zakia Mohammed, Farida Saboundji, Salwa, and a large number of artists who expressed their sorrow for losing a legendary singer.

Friends of Warda Al Jazairia came, national and international journalists, media and fans from a number of countries, came to express their last goodbye in a sad funeral, which took place in Al Alia cemetry.

Egyptians largely absent from Warda’s funeral

Egyptian artists were largely absent of the funeral of the Arab legendary singer Warda Al Jazairia, who lived in Egypt for her career, though late, she loved this country and considered it like her home country Algeria, and although she had tight ties with many Egyptian artists such as, Nabila Obeid, Fifi Abdou and others, but no one of those “friends” accompanies her dead body, which was received by Algerian authorities in Houari Boumediene Airport on Friday, thing which caused a controversy among Algerian artists, while the Egyptian embassy to Algiers sent only its Chargé d’Affaires, and who delivered a speech in which he presented condolences to Algerians. The only Arab artist who attended her funeral was Hussein Al Jasmi, marking a noble position among the rest of Arab artists, who did not attend her funeral, eventhough she supported them on their way to fame and celebrity.

“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar” for the rose of dignity

Hundreds of Algerian families did not miss the opportunity to come to the Palace of Culture in Annasers neighborhood (Kouba, Algiers) to say last goodbyes to their “Rose” which was their legendary icon and was a shining star in their joys and National celebrations for decades. Some fans praised her by ululating, others were shouting and crying. Men of the civil protection carried her body to Al Alia cemetery,where she laid to rest, to the extent that the security services face difficulty to hold on the situation before a march that started from the Palace of culture up to the main road, where they sang patriotic songs like “I invite you, O my hope,” (Adouka ya Amali) performed by Warda in 1972 to mark the Independence Day during a gala at the request of the late President Houari Boumedienne.

The legend Warda Al Jazairia passed away on Thursday at the age of 72 in Cairo, Egypt. Family members announced her death after she suffered a heart attack Thursday night in her house in Cairo. She is known for her memorable hits including “Batwanis Bik” (You are my best campanion), and “Harramt Ahibbak” (I will never love you again), and a long list of beautiful and romantic songs.

Warda was born in 1929 in Puteaux, France to a Lebanese Mother and Algerian father. She started singing at the age of eleven in 1951. She quickly became well known for her singing of patriotic Algerian songs. When she married in 1962, her husband forbade her to sing. In 1972, Algerian president Houari Boumedienne asked her to sing to commemorate Algeria’s Independence, and she performed with an Egyptian orchestra. As a result her marriage broke up, and she dedicated her life to music.

May she rest in peace.