Sahar Taha
Encyclopedia
Sahar Taha is an Iraqi
musician
and journalist
living in Lebanon
who co-hosts the Lebanese programme Banat Hawa on LBC
. She is best known for playing the oud
in both eastern and western music.
, followed by a degree in Oud and Singing from the National Conservatory of Lebanon
in 1989. In addition to her career in music, Taha is a writer for various Arabic and Lebanese newspapers and has been writing for Beirut
's daily Al-Mustaqbal
since 1999. She has also presented numerous musical programmes in the Arab media and worked for Future TV and ART
television stations in the mid-90s.
Staying present in the musical scene, Taha served as a judge in musical festivals and programmes across Lebanon and Egypt
in 1995, 2001 and 2002.
Since 1997, she has been a member of The Professional Artists Syndicate, as well as a member of honor in the Munir Bashir Oud and Traditional Musical Art International Foundation, in remembrance of internationally famous Iraqi oudist Munir Bashir
.
Since 1986 Taha has performed in many concerts throughout the Middle East
and Europe
; in Lebanon, Jordan
, Egypt, Tunisia
, Syria
, Qatar
, Germany
, Austria
and her native homeland Iraq
.
and is now a naturalized Lebanese national. She still has family in Baghdad.
Iraqi people
The Iraqi people or Mesopotamian people are natives or inhabitants of the country of Iraq, known since antiquity as Mesopotamia , with a large diaspora throughout the Arab World, Europe, the Americas, and...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
living in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
who co-hosts the Lebanese programme Banat Hawa on LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
. She is best known for playing the oud
Oud
The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging paths...
in both eastern and western music.
Early life and career
In 1984 Taha received a MA in Business Administration in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, followed by a degree in Oud and Singing from the National Conservatory of Lebanon
Conservatoire Libanais
Le Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique or The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music was founded in the 1930s by Wadih Sabra, composer of the national anthem of Lebanon. Sabra's goal was to establish an institute of higher learning for music. The Conservatoire, which is...
in 1989. In addition to her career in music, Taha is a writer for various Arabic and Lebanese newspapers and has been writing for Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
's daily Al-Mustaqbal
Al-Mustaqbal (newspaper)
Al-Mustaqbal meaning The Future is an Arabic language daily newspaper in Lebanon. It was launched in 1995 by Rafik Hariri, former Prime Minister and assassinated leader of the Movement of the Future....
since 1999. She has also presented numerous musical programmes in the Arab media and worked for Future TV and ART
Arabesque TV
Arabesque is an Arabic language pay-tv channel, owned by Arab Digital Distribution.Arabesque commonly known as ART, broadcasts via Hotbird and Nilesat satellites to the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Its direct competitors in the Arab regions are Showtime Arabia and Orbit Satellite...
television stations in the mid-90s.
Staying present in the musical scene, Taha served as a judge in musical festivals and programmes across Lebanon and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 1995, 2001 and 2002.
Since 1997, she has been a member of The Professional Artists Syndicate, as well as a member of honor in the Munir Bashir Oud and Traditional Musical Art International Foundation, in remembrance of internationally famous Iraqi oudist Munir Bashir
Munir Bashir
Munir Bashir was an Assyrian musician in Iraq and one of the most famous musicians in the Middle East during the 20th century and was considered to be the supreme master of the Arab maqamat scale system....
.
Since 1986 Taha has performed in many concerts throughout the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
; in Lebanon, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Egypt, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and her native homeland Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Personal life
Taha married a LebaneseLebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
and is now a naturalized Lebanese national. She still has family in Baghdad.
Albums
- Baghdadiyat feat. Omar Bashir
- Traditional Iraqi songs (2003)
- Waddaato Baghdad (2010)