Zehava Ben
Encyclopedia
Zehava Ben is one of the most popular Israel
i female vocalists in the Mizrahi music
genre; the Middle Eastern-style of singing rising from Israel's Mizrahi Jewish population, dominating Israeli music in the 1990s and popular ever since.
in Southern Israel, to a Moroccan Jewish family. She was born in "Shikun Dalet" (D Neighborhood) a poverty, crime and drug infested neighborhood.
Zehava is very proud of her Moroccan
heritage, and most of her music is quite distinctive of that, singing both in Hebrew
and Arabic
. She has appeared in many music festivals outside Israel, namely in Sweden
and France
.
, primarily among Israel's Mizrahi Jews
(Jews of Middle Eastern and North African backgrounds) and Arab Israelis.
Despite her music being banned in some Arab
countries due to a boycott on products of Israeli origin
, Zehava is also popular throughout the Arab world
as an Arabic-language singer. Among her repertoire are re-makes of traditional Arabic hits, including "Enta Omri" (You Are My Life) by legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.
Zehava appeared in the 1996 election campaign for 'Meretz' (left wing civil rights movement), singing the famous "Shir LaShalom" (Song For Peace).
One of her famous songs, "Ma Yihye" (What Will Be) from 1994, was featured in the Buddha Bar collection.
After 9/11 Ben and Etti Ankri
, David D'Or
, Arkady Duchin
, and other Israeli singers recorded the title song "Yesh Od Tikvah" ("Our Hope Endures"), for which D'Or wrote the music and lyrics, on the CD Yesh Od Tikvah/You've Got a Friend. The CD, released by Hed Arzi in 2002, benefitted Israeli terror victims, with all proceeds going to "NATAL": the "Israel Trauma Center
for Victims of Terror and War".
In 2005, Zehava Ben entered a song contest to represent Israel in the Eurovision song contest
with the song "Peace And Love" (sung in Hebrew, Arabic and English). She reached second place to winner Shiri Maymon (another Jewish Israeli of Moroccan heritage).
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i female vocalists in the Mizrahi music
Mizrahi music
Mizrahi music refers to the music integration that combines elements from Europe, the West, and Middle Eastern/North African countries transported to Israel by migrating Jews. It is usually sung in Hebrew, literary Hebrew and Arabic slang...
genre; the Middle Eastern-style of singing rising from Israel's Mizrahi Jewish population, dominating Israeli music in the 1990s and popular ever since.
Early life
Zehava was born Zehava Benisty in Beer-Sheva, the capital city of the NegevNegev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
in Southern Israel, to a Moroccan Jewish family. She was born in "Shikun Dalet" (D Neighborhood) a poverty, crime and drug infested neighborhood.
Zehava is very proud of her Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
heritage, and most of her music is quite distinctive of that, singing both in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
. She has appeared in many music festivals outside Israel, namely in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Music career
Zehava became familiar in Israel in 1990, when the title track of a film she took part in, called "Tipat Mazal" (A Bit Of Luck), became a hit throughout IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, primarily among Israel's Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews
Mizrahi Jews or Mizrahiyim, , also referred to as Adot HaMizrach are Jews descended from the Jewish communities of the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus...
(Jews of Middle Eastern and North African backgrounds) and Arab Israelis.
Despite her music being banned in some Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
countries due to a boycott on products of Israeli origin
Economic and political boycotts of Israel
Boycotts of Israel are economic and political cultural campaigns or actions that seek a selective or total cutting of ties with the State of Israel...
, Zehava is also popular throughout the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
as an Arabic-language singer. Among her repertoire are re-makes of traditional Arabic hits, including "Enta Omri" (You Are My Life) by legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.
Zehava appeared in the 1996 election campaign for 'Meretz' (left wing civil rights movement), singing the famous "Shir LaShalom" (Song For Peace).
One of her famous songs, "Ma Yihye" (What Will Be) from 1994, was featured in the Buddha Bar collection.
After 9/11 Ben and Etti Ankri
Etti Ankri
Esther "Etti" Ankri is an Israeli singer-songwriter. She is a former Female Singer of the Year in Israel, and has also performed in the United States, England, and India. Ankri has been called a "rock genius", the "poet of Israeli spirituality," and "the contemporary voice of.....
, David D'Or
David D'Or
David D'Or is an Israeli singer, composer, and songwriter. A countertenor with a vocal range of more than four octaves, he is a three-time winner of the Israeli "Singer of the Year" and "Best Vocal Performer" awards. He was also chosen to represent Israel in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, at...
, Arkady Duchin
Arkadi Duchin
Arkadi Duchin is an Israeli singer-songwriter and musical producer.-Early life:Duchin was born in Babruysk, Belarus. He immigrated to Israel at the age of 15.-Music career:...
, and other Israeli singers recorded the title song "Yesh Od Tikvah" ("Our Hope Endures"), for which D'Or wrote the music and lyrics, on the CD Yesh Od Tikvah/You've Got a Friend. The CD, released by Hed Arzi in 2002, benefitted Israeli terror victims, with all proceeds going to "NATAL": the "Israel Trauma Center
Trauma center
A trauma center is a hospital equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services to patients suffering traumatic injuries. Trauma centers grew into existence out of the realization that traumatic injury is a disease process unto itself requiring specialized and experienced...
for Victims of Terror and War".
In 2005, Zehava Ben entered a song contest to represent Israel in the Eurovision song contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
with the song "Peace And Love" (sung in Hebrew, Arabic and English). She reached second place to winner Shiri Maymon (another Jewish Israeli of Moroccan heritage).
Records and Discography
- 1999: Best of Zehava Ben
- 2000: Arabic Songs
- 2000: Crying Rain
- 2000: Stop the World
- 2000: What Kind of World
- 2000: White Stork
- 2000: Super Gold
- 2001: Coming Home
- 2001: Real King
- 2001: To Be Human
- 2002: Melech Amiti (A Real King)
- 2003: Beit Avi
- 2003: Laroz Variations
- 2003: My Father's House
- 2003: looking forward
- 2003: to be a man
- 2004: zehava ben
- 2005: sings Arabic vol.1
- 2005: sings Arabic vol.2
- 2005: children songs
- 2006: the best of zehava ben
- 2008: going with the light
External links
- Zehava Ben Official Web Site – Zehava Ben's Official Web Site.