Saudi singer breaking through the barriers
Print Edition
SAUDI Arabia’s “Paul McCartney” took to the stage in Jeddah last week for a rare concert in a kingdom seeking to boost entertainment despite religious warnings of “depravity.”
The performance by Mohammed Abdu, popular throughout the Arab world, was the first major concert in 7 years in Jeddah, the kingdom’s second city.
About 8,000 enthusiastic fans — all male — filled an indoor sports venue for Abdu’s romantic and patriotic songs.
The Islamic kingdom bans alcohol, public cinemas and theatres, and normally segregates men and women in public.
But as part of wide-ranging economic and social reform effort, a new entertainment authority has already brought in some foreign shows, seen by limited audiences. Those reforms are led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 31, who faces resistance from religious conservatives.
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