Tunisian singer Latifa will sit on the panel of judges for the Seventh Omani Song Festival in Muscat, a city that has been termed the new capital of Arab culture 

According to the London based Elaph, the event will be aired live on the Omani satellite television channel.  

Latifa plans to film a new music video in Oman in the near future.

Latifa’s latest album "Khalouni" (Let Me) has given rise to criticism from the music industry in several northern African countries, particularly from Tunisian newspapers.

The rights to the song "Khalouni" belong to the late Algerian singer Dahman Al Harashi, and a number of music critics claim that Latifa failed to mention Dahman in her promotional campaign for the album or even to credit him on the CD cover, marketing the song as ‘Khalouni- Latifa.’

Tunisian critic Abdul Majeed Al Sahli stated that Dahman had passed away in the eighties, leaving behind a number of successful songs from Northern African countries. Other singers have performed the songs of Dahman, like Rai singer Tasheed Taha, but credited him, he explained.

It is not clear if the heirs to Dahman’s estate will take legal action.

Latifa’s last album was released in 2003. A year later she released the song "Khalouni" as a single that was subsequently included in an album that featured the best of Latifa’s songs.

Latifa stated she did not steal the rights to the song, and made it a point to credit Dahman as the original composer, explaining that she had received permission from the late composer’s family before recording the song and filming the accompanying video.

 

© 2006 Al Bawaba