Najwa Karam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Najwa Karam
نجوى كرم
Karam in January 2018
Born	Najwa Karam Karam نجوى كرم كرم (1966-02-26) 26 February 1966 (age 59) Zahlé, Lebanon
Occupation	Singer producer songwriter fashionicon tv personality
Years active	1987–present
Spouse(s)	Youssef Harb ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2002)​ Omar Al-Dahmani ​ (m. 2024)​
Musical career
Genres	Arabic music
Instruments	Electronic keyboard, oud
Labels	Relax-In International (1989–1991) CM (1992–1993) Rotana (1994–present) Universal Music

Najwa Karam (Arabic: نجوى كرم, born February 26, 1966) is a famous singer, songwriter, and TV star from Lebanon. She has sold over 60 million records around the world. This makes her one of the best-selling Lebanese artists ever.

People call her Shams el-Ghinnieh, which means "The Sun of Arabic Song". She is known for her strong voice and special singing style called mawwal. Najwa Karam mixes traditional Lebanese music with modern sounds. This has helped spread the Lebanese way of speaking in Arabic Music. She has been listed by Forbes as one of the top celebrities in the Middle East.

Najwa Karam became a judge on the TV show Arabs Got Talent in 2011. She has been on all six seasons of the show. In 2020, she was a coach on The Voice Senior. Forbes Middle East also named her one of the "Top 10 of Arab Stars On The Global Stage".

Her career really took off in the 1990s. Albums like Naghmet Hob and Maghroumeh made her very popular. In 2000, her album Oyoun Qalbi sold millions of copies. Her 2001 album Nedmaneh also sold millions. It won her awards like "Best Arabic Artist". By 2003, with her album Saharni, she was a huge pop icon in the Middle East.

Najwa Karam has worked with famous musicians like Melhem Barakat. She also sang a popular duet called "W Kberna" ("We Grow Old Together") with the legendary singer Wadih el Safi. In 2011, she made the first 3D music video in the Arab world for her song "Ma Fi Noum". In 2012, she even walked the Red Carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. Her song Maloun Abou L Echeq in 2019 became one of the most-watched Arabic music videos on YouTube.

About Najwa Karam's Life and Career

Early Life and First Steps in Music: 1985–1988

Najwa Karam was born in Zahle, Lebanon. She comes from a Christian family. Her parents were Karam Karam and Barbara Chahine Karam. She has an older sister, Salwa, and three older brothers, Tony, Jean, and Nicolas. From a young age, everyone knew Najwa had a powerful singing voice.

Her parents wanted her to get a good education. So, Najwa went to Jesus the Angel College. She later earned a degree in philosophy. For two years, she worked as a geography and Arabic teacher in Zahlé.

Even though she was a teacher, Najwa loved music. In 1985, she joined a TV singing contest called "Layali Lubnan" (Lebanese Nights). Her father didn't want her to at first. But Najwa showed off her traditional Lebanese singing style, the Mawwal. She won first place and a Gold Medal! This also helped her get her father's approval. After winning, Najwa studied music for four years. Famous Lebanese composers Zaki Nasif and Fouad Awad taught her. In 1987, she joined another TV contest, Laylat Haz. This helped her get ready for her first album in 1989.

Starting Her Music Journey: 1989–1993

Shams el-Ghinnieh (The Sun of Song) and Ana Ma’akom (I Am With You)

In 1989, Najwa Karam released her first album, Ya Habayeb. It had seven songs in a traditional Lebanese style. People in Lebanon liked it, but it wasn't well-known in other Arab countries.

After three years, Najwa released her next album, Shams el-Ghinnieh. The album was named after her nickname, "The Sun of Song". This name was given to her because of her amazing voice. This album was more romantic and modern. It was very popular in Lebanon.

In 1993, Najwa signed with a new record company for her album Ana Ma'akon ("I am with you"). This album was in a classic style. It was very different from Shams el-Ghinnieh. Najwa wasn't happy with it, but she had to release it because of her contract. The album didn't sell well. This was partly because of poor advertising. It is still her least known album.

Becoming a Star: 1994–1999

Najwa Karam's career changed for the better when she joined Rotana. This is the biggest record label in the Middle East. It is owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal from Saudi Arabia.

They immediately started working on a new album. Top writers and composers helped Najwa create a fresh new music style. This was to get more attention from people across the Arab world. In 1994, her album Naghmet Hob (The Rhythm of Love) came out. It mixed Lebanese tradition with Arab pop music. The song "Law Habaytek" ("If I Loved You") was a huge hit. It introduced Najwa Karam to the whole Middle East. The song and its music video were number one on many charts. Other popular songs from the album were "Wrood Eddar" and "Elala".

Because Naghmet Hob was so successful, Najwa went on a concert tour. She also won awards, including "Best Artist of 1994".

Najwa quickly became a top Arabic music star. In 1995, she released her fifth album, Ma Bassmahlak. It was similar to Naghmet Hob but had deeper lyrics. Two songs, "Ma Bassmahlak" and "Hakam el-Qady", became hits.

Hazi Helo (I'm Lucky)

On June 16, 1996, Najwa released her album Hazi Helo ("I'm Lucky"). The title song "Hazi Helo" and three others were very popular.

After Hazi Helo, Najwa went on a big world tour. She performed in many Arab countries, parts of Europe, and America. She found many fans in the U.S. and had sold-out concerts. To celebrate her success in the U.S., she was given the Key to the City of Chicago.

Ma Hada La Hada (Nobody is for anybody) and Maghroumeh (In Love)

After her world tour, Najwa Karam returned to Lebanon with new song ideas. She started working on her next album, Ma Hada La Hada. The songs on this album sounded more modern. For example, "El Helw" had foreign beats and electronic sounds. The title song became quite popular. It used traditional Lebanese instruments like the Qanoun, violin, and accordion. The music, along with a strong music video, made the song a big hit.

Her 1998 album, Maghroumeh, showed Najwa mixing traditional Lebanese music with modern Arabic pop. This is the style she is famous for today. It had poetic Arabic lyrics sung with her powerful voice. It used many Arabic instruments like the tarabuka and mijwiz, along with modern ones. Maghroumeh was another success. The title song, "Maghroumeh" ("I Am in Love"), was a video clip and became number one on most radio stations. Other hits were "Ghamza" ("The Wink") and "Noqta al-Satr" ("Full Stop").

Rouh Rouhi (The soul of my soul)

In 1999, Najwa Karam released her new album Rouh Rouhi. It was similar to Maghroumeh but with some changes in singing and music styles. The music was very detailed, and the lyrics were more poetic. The songs "Ariftu Albi La Meen" ("Do you know who my heart belongs to?"), "Atchana" ("Thirsty"), and the title song "Rouh Rouhi" ("Soul of my Soul") were the main hits. Many other songs like "Kif Bdawik" and "Ma Berda Ghayrak" were also successful.

2000–2004: Continued Success

In 2000, Najwa Karam released Oyoun Qalbi. This album was more romantic and thoughtful. It included songs like "Majboura" with a modern jazz feel, and "power ballads" like "Oyoun Qalbi" and "Khaleek al Ard". A music video was made for a mix of songs from the album. Oyoun Qalbi sold over 5 million copies. It became her highest-selling album ever.

In 2001, Najwa released Nedmaneh. It sold over 4 million copies worldwide. This album continued the style of Oyoun Qalbi and tried new sounds. The song "Aaskah" ("Falling in love") was a huge hit across the Middle East. It was a fun and lively song with a strong beat and Middle Eastern sound. The success of Nedmaneh brought many awards. These included a Murex D'or for "Best Arabic Artist" and three awards from Rotana: "Artist of the Year", "Album of the Year", and "Highest Selling Album".

To celebrate her success, Rotana held a special event for Najwa Karam in Beirut in 2001. Important people like the Lebanese Minister of Information and famous singer Wadih el Safi were there. Najwa sang her old and new hits and received many awards. A live concert CD and a "Best Of" CD were released from this event.

Najwa's 2002 album, Tahamouni, was different from her previous easy-going albums. It aimed to connect with younger audiences from other Arab countries. Songs like Tahamouni even included attempts at rapping.

Saharni (He Charmed Me)

In late 2002, Najwa Karam started working with the Lebanese star Wadih el Safi. They decided to sing a duet about a father-daughter relationship. The song was called W Kberna (We grow old together). It was a powerful song where both singers showed amazing vocal range. W Kberna was a big hit because its lyrics were easy to understand, and it brought two major artists together.

After this success, Najwa started working on a new album. By mid-2003, it was ready. Rotana held a huge launch party in Downtown Beirut. Over fifteen thousand fans came to see her.

Her 2003 album, Saharni (Charmed), was a return to Najwa Karam's older style. It surprised the public who expected modern pop. The music had a clear Lebanese sound with traditional instruments and a lively singing style. Najwa also had a new look. Saharni's success was immediate. It topped the charts and had major hits like Edhak Lil Dounya (Smile to the world) and the title track Saharni.

Najwa went on a world tour for Saharni. She visited the Middle East, France, and the US with Wadih el Safi. She also had a sold-out tour in Australia. Her concert there still holds the record for the largest audience for an Arabic artist. Najwa received many awards in 2003. These included "Highest Selling Album" from Rotana and "Best singer of Traditional Lebanese Song". The Australian government also gave her an honorary award for her positive impact on Australian and Lebanese relations.

In 2004, Najwa released a new song called Leish Mgharrab? (Why are you living abroad?). It was about the difficulties people face when they leave their home country for a better life. The music video was also very new. Some parts of the video were changed before it could be shown. The song was very popular, especially with Lebanese people living abroad.

A few months later, Najwa finished her new album, Shu Mghaira..!. Like Saharni, it had a clear Lebanese sound but was more modern and a bit sad. Najwa continued to perform live to promote the album. A big event in 2004 was her sold-out concert in Carthage, Tunisia. The songs Bi Hawak and Shu Mghaira were made into an expensive music video with special effects. It stayed at number one for six weeks on the Rotana Top 20 Chart. Najwa was voted "Female Artist of the Year" by MusicanaNet.net.

2005 and Beyond

In 2005, Najwa Karam released a new song and video called Shu Jani. It was a modern pop song with traditional Lebanese instruments. The video was filmed in the Faraya ski resort in Lebanon. Some people criticized the timing of its release because it was during a busy election time in Lebanon. Najwa said her record company released it against her wishes. Despite this, Shu Jani was well-liked by the public.

Because of the situation in Lebanon, Najwa's 2005 album was delayed several times. However, she released another song in July called Bhebak Walaa. It was an upbeat song, typical of Najwa's style. It became a big hit. In September 2005, the video for Bhebak Walaa was released.

Kibir'el Hob (Love Got Bigger)

In November 2005, mysterious advertisements appeared in Beirut. They showed a lady's hand on a cloudy sky with no words. People wondered who it was. Soon, it was revealed to be Najwa Karam.

On November 30, 2005, Najwa's 15th album, Kibir'el Hob (Love Just Got Greater), was released. The album got a lot of attention because of its big advertising campaign. This included billboards, TV appearances, and music videos. Kibir'el Hob was the best-selling album in Lebanon for Rotana during the Christmas season. It stayed number one through the New Year. In April 2006, Najwa released a third and final song from the album, which became one of the most popular Arabic songs of 2006.

After the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Najwa Karam worked with Lebanese singer Melhim Barakat for the first time. They recorded the song Rah Yeb2a El Watan. This song called for unity among Lebanese people. It was praised for its message and singing.

2007–2008: Hayda Haki (That's What I'm Talking About) & Aam Bimzah Maak (I'm Kidding With You)

In May 2007, Najwa's new song "Hayda Haki" started playing on Arab radio stations. On June 6, 2007, Rotana released her 16th album, also called Hayda Haki. It had eight songs with different styles. The album was a huge success from its first week in Lebanon, the Gulf, and other Arab countries.

Najwa Karam was a guest on the TV show Album on MBC 1. In June, she released the music video for Hayda Haki. It quickly reached the number one spot on the charts.

Najwa Karam toured the United States and Canada with Lebanese stars Wael Kfoury and Fadel Shaker. The tour lasted over a month and visited major cities. All the concerts were very successful.

Karam in December 2008

In July 2008, Rotana released Najwa's 17th album, Am Bimzah Maak (I'm Joking with you). The album was very successful and received good reviews. It had eight songs. Famous composer Melhim Baraket wrote two songs for the album. The album was number one for three months in Virgin Mega Store Lebanon. Rotana said it was one of their top three best-selling albums in the Middle East.

Many songs from Aam Bimza7 Maak were very popular. Najwa released a second music video from the album for "Ma Bkhabi Aleyk". She also shot a third video for "Taa Taa Khabik". This video was very successful in Lebanon, Maghreb, Syria, Jordan, and the Gulf countries.

2009: Khallini Shoufak (Let Me See You)

In February 2009, Najwa Karam performed at the Hala Febrayer 09 concert in Kuwait. She sang a mix of old and new songs for the lively crowd.

On March 9, for Mother's Day, Najwa Karam released her song "El Deni Em" (A mother is a whole world). It was a huge success and stayed number one for three weeks on the online magazine "Elaph".

In May 2009, Najwa Karam performed at the Mawazine Festival in Morocco. Her opening show attracted over 90,000 people.

On June 10, 2009, Rotana released Najwa's 18th album, Khallini Shoufak (Let me see you). The album has eight songs, each with a different style. Along with the main song "Khallini Shufak", three other songs were very popular: "Eidak", "Allah Yesghello Balo", and "Aboos Eynak". Najwa said this album was a strong return to her original style, like her 2003 album Saharny. The music video for "Khallini Shoufak" was released around the same time.

Najwa was a guest performer on the final show of Star Academy 6 (Lebanon). She sang some of her hits and her latest song, "Khallini Shoufak". She also appeared on other TV shows like Layali El Samar and Taratata.

2010–2011: Bil Rou7, Bil Dam (in the soul, in the blood) & Lashhad Hobbak (I’ll beg your love)

On May 7, 2010, Najwa Karam's new song "Bil Rou7, Bil Dam" (In the soul, in the blood) started playing on the radio. This was her first song in 17 years not produced directly by Rotana. The song and its music video were very successful. The video even featured a Guinness world record for the largest plate of tabbouleh.

Then, on November 11, 2010, Najwa released her next song, "Lashhad Hobbak" (I'll beg your love). Its music video was shown on Rotana Music Channels. It became very popular. In the video, Najwa wore a special spiderweb bodysuit designed by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad. This same design was later worn by Jennifer Lopez in her music video "On the Floor".

In late 2010, Najwa Karam decided to sign a new contract with Rotana.

Later, a song called "Wayn" appeared online without Najwa's permission. It was stolen from her office. The song was recorded in 2009 but was not included in that year's album. Even though it was released illegally, people liked the song. It had a slow rhythm and a different style for Najwa. It reached the top ten singles.

2011: Hal Leile...MaFi Noum (Tonight, There's No Sleep)

On June 28, 2011, Rotana released Hal Leile...MaFi Noum (Tonight...There's No Sleep), Najwa Karam's 19th album. "MaFi Noum" and "Shu Hal Leile" were released as singles before the album. "Law Bas Taaraf" was the third single. Three days after its release, the album was number one on the Virgin Megastore Charts. Najwa wrote three songs on the album: "Mafi Noum", "Shu Hal Leile", and "Eainy Bi Eainak". The main song "MaFi Noum" uses special "Doum Tac" Derbake notes in its chorus. Najwa explained the meaning of these notes in interviews. They have become a special part of her music.

Two weeks after the album came out, a 3D music video for "Ma Fi Noum" was released. It was the first 3D music video in the Middle East. The video was made by teams from the US and UK with a Lebanese production group. It was directed by Waleed Nassif and produced by Sony and Rotana. The video featured Abdelmalek Al Baljani, a dancer from Arabs' Got Talent. Najwa had promised to put him in her next video after seeing him on the show. The video was filmed in Northern Lebanon. It premiered at a theater in Lebanon and was shown in 600 3D Sony stores. A 2D version was also released for TV and YouTube. The "MaFi Noum" 3D video had one of the biggest budgets for a music video in the Middle East.

2017: Menni Elak (From Me, To You)

Najwa Karam's latest album, Menni Elak, was very successful. It was among the Top 4 on iTunes worldwide. It was number one for five weeks in the Middle East and Arab countries. It also topped the charts for six months in Virgin Megastore in Lebanon. The album even made it to the list of the 100 best albums on iTunes Brazil and was number one on a Chinese music website. Because of this, Najwa Karam was listed as one of the most listened-to singers on a Japanese radio station and was on the cover of a Malaysian magazine.

On Amazon World Music, the album was a best-seller in Germany, America, and Britain. In June, songs from the album were played on the international British Radio "FM 1 FM" in London. The song "Ah min el Gharam" from the album was nominated for a music award in Spain. Another song, "Habibi Min", got fifth place in the voting finals. All eight songs from the album were on "The Hot 100 songs" list in Iran. Eleven months later, "Habibi Min" was number one on iTunes Uzbekistan.

Personal Life

In June 2024, Najwa Karam announced she married Omar Al-Dahmani. He is a businessman from the United Arab Emirates. She shared the news on stage in Bucharest, Romania. She wore a long white wedding dress by Lebanese designer Rami Kadi. She said the dress was special because it was her wedding dress.

Discography

Studio Albums

• 1989: Ya Habayeb
• 1992: Shams el-Ghinnieh
• 1993: Ana Ma'akon
• 1994: Naghmet Hob
• 1995: Ma Bassmahlak
• 1996: Hazi Helo
• 1997: Ma Hada La Hada
• 1998: Maghroumeh
• 1999: Rouh Rouhi
• 2000: Oyoun Qalbi
• 2001: Nedmaneh
• 2002: Tahamouni
• 2003: Saharni
• 2004: Shu Mghaira..!
• 2005: Kibir'el Hob
• 2007: Hayda Haki
• 2008: Am Bemzah Ma'ak
• 2009: Khallini Shoufak
• 2011: Hal Layle... Ma Fi Nom
• 2017: Menni Elak
• 2023: Karizma

Singles

• 1987: A'ala Zahle Wasselni
• 1987: A'al A'alali
• 1987: Ya Ghawi
• 1987: Batalet Soum W Salli
• 1987: El Watan El Ghali
• 1987: Largueslo bl Seif
• 1989: El Layl Sar Nhar
• 1989: El Raqm El Saa'ab
• 1996: Jayi Ya Jarash Jayi
• 1997: Aezzik Dayem Ya Carthage
• 1998: A Droub El Sham
• 2000: Ana Jayi Men Kfarhabbayt
• 2002: W Kberna (feat. Wadih El Safi)
• 2004: Kwaiti Aarabi
• 2005: Shu Jani
• 2006: Ra7 Yeb2a El Watan (feat. Melhem Barakat)
• 2007: Bel San'a (feat. Melhem Barakat)
• 2007: Hayda Haki (Rotana Remix)
• 2007: Oter El Majd
• 2010: Bil Rouh Bil Dam
• 2010: Lashhad Hobbak
• 2011: Wayn (Leaked Single)
• 2012: Isroj Bel Layl Hsanak
• 2013: Ykhallili Albak
• 2014: Aal Sakhra
• 2014: Ya Yomma
• 2015: Kelmit Haa'
• 2015: Ma Bestaghreb (Song for Morocco)
• 2015: Siid L Rijaal
• 2015: Bawsit Abel alNawm
• 2016: Deni Ya Dana
• 2016: Yekhreb Baytak
• 2017: Yenaad Aalayk (‘’Menni Elak’’ Bonus Track Single)
• 2017: Nehna Chaabak Ya Allah
• 2018: YaHo (feat. Adel el Iraqi)
• 2018: El Layli Laylitna
• 2019: Allah Yekhod Biyadik (Song For Saudi Arabia)
• 2019: Mal3oun Abu El Isheg
• 2019: Ktir Helou
• 219: Be3alle2 Mashna2to
• 2019: Ba3cha2 Tafasilak
• 2020: Beirut
• 2020: Maazour Albi
• 2020: Zayed Majedha
• 2021: Maghroumi 2
• 2021: Saher Ouloub
• 2022: Helwe El Denye
• 2022: Saaa Bayda

Compilations

• 2001: The Very Best of Najwa Karam
• 2006: Greatest Hits
• 2016: Best of Najwa 2016

Live Recordings

• 2001: Live in Concert

Major Concerts and Festivals

Najwa Karam has performed in hundreds of concerts and festivals around the world. She has sung in many Arab countries, Europe, and America. Some notable performances include:

• International Festival of Carthage – Tunisia (multiple times)
• Jerash International Festivals – Jordan (multiple times)
• Mawazine International Festivals – Morocco (attracting huge crowds, over 180,000 people in 2013)
• Royal Albert Hall London – UK
• Sydney Olympic Park – Australia
• Palais des congrès de Paris – France
• Kuwait Opera House
• Talal Maddah Theatre – Saudi Arabia (She was the first Arab singer to perform there)

Awards and Achievements

Najwa Karam has received many awards throughout her career. Here are some of them:

Images for kids

• 

  Karam in January 2018

• 

  Karam in December 2008

See also

In Spanish: Najwa Karam para niños

• Music of Lebanon
• Music of Egypt