| Wadih El Safi | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Wadih Francis |
| Also known as | Sawt Lobnan Al Khaled (The Immortal Lebanese Voice) |
| Born | November 1, 1921 |
| Origin | Niha, Lebanon |
| Genres | Tarab, Folk |
| Occupations | singer, songwriter, composer, instrumentalist |
| Instruments | oud |
| Years active | 61 |
| Labels | unknown |
| Website | http://www.wadihelsafi.com/ |
Wadih El Safi (Arabic: وديع الصافي, Syriac: ܘܕܝܥ ܐܠܨܦܝ) (born Wadi' Francis in Niha, Lebanon, in 1921) is a Lebanese singer songwriter, and actor of Assyrian/Syriac background.[1][2] He is a Lebanese cultural icon, and is often called the "Voice of Lebanon".[3][4] Wadih El Safi started his artistic journey at the age of seventeen when he took part in a singing contest held by Lebanese Radio and was chosen the winner among fifty other competitors.
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El Safi is a classically trained tenor, having studied at the Beirut National Conservatory of Music. He became nationally known when, at seventeen, he won a vocal competition sponsored by the Lebanese Broadcasting Network.[5] El Safi began composing and performing songs that drew upon his rural upbringing and love of traditional melodies, blended with an urban sound, and creating a new style of modernized Lebanese folk music. He performed in venues throughout the Middle East.
In 1947, El Safi traveled to Brazil, where he remained until 1950. After his return to Lebanon, El Safi continued to develop folk music and chose poetry and zajal to inspire patriotism and focus on love, devotion, morals and values.
El Safi toured the world, singing in many languages, including Arabic, Syriac, French, Portuguese and Italian. He took part in major international festivals and earned many high distinction honors in Lebanon, Tunisia, Jordan, Yemen, Morocco, Syria, Oman and France. He spent some time acting as well, playing in the 1966 Lebanese film "Mawwal".
In the spring of 1973 El Safi recorded and released a vinyl single with the songs "Grishlah Idi" and "Iman Ya Zawna", both in Syriac-Aramaic. The music arrangements were done by Nuri Iskandar and the songs were produced especially for the syriac UNESCO Festival, which occurred in Beirut at that time where El Safi participated as a singer.
El Safi was awarded a doctorate honoris causa from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.
El Safi has written over 3000 songs.[6] He is well known for his mawawil (an improvised singing style) of 'ataba, mijana, and Abu el Zuluf. He has performed and recorded with many well-known Lebanese musicians, including Najwa Karam, Fairouz, and Sabah.