Rabat – On Tuesday, November 2, the news of the death of iconic Tarab Syrian singer Sabah Fakhri rocked the Arab world. Soon after his death, social media users and celebrities launched the #SabahFakhri hashtag, and its Arabic equivalent, mourning the loss of the legendary Syrian singer.

Zaina Erhaim, Syrian war reporter and human rights activist, tweeted: “For the first time in a decade, I am seeing warm and joyful memories being tweeted with #Syria from all over the region. In response to the legendary singer #SabahFakhri’s death at the age of 88. That is creating a wave of nostalgia & triggers.”

Mina Al-Oraibi, an Iraqi-British journalist and chief editor for the newspaper The National News, tweeted: “Syrian singer Sabah Fakhri dies aged 88… another icon gone from the Arab world.”

 

Syrian actor and star Taim Hasan tweeted in Arabic: “May God bestow his mercy on legendary #SabahFakhri, Syria’s great voice, king of tune and Tarab, Sultan of Arab heritage, my sincere condolences for his family and friends, generous people of Halab, and the Arab audience of the world”

Wael Jassar, a prominent Lebanese singer tweeted in Arabic: “A great loss of Arab art, farewell great #SabahFakhri”

Kuwaiti composer, Fahed Alnasser, also paid tribute to Fakhri, calling the Syrian singer “the melody of Aleppo. And the light of music went out in the Levant. Farewell.”

The hashtag #SabahFakhri was retweeted over 500 times on Twitter alone by celebrities, fans, and news outlets from across the Arab world within a few hours following the tragic news.

Sabah Fakhri, famous for his charismatic performance and remarkable strong vocals, takes credit for popularizing fading forms of traditional Arabic music.

Fakhri’s exemplary execution of Maqamat, a set of pitches and traditional patterns for their use, and harmony attracted fans and admirers from all around the world. 

The beloved singer’s remarkable career spanned over 70 years, during which Fakhri was hailed as the voice of Syrian folk music and influenced generations of Arab musicians around the world.

Born in 1933 into a traditional family, Fakhri developed a passion for singing at a young age. His talent was further refined when he joined the Academy of Damascus. 

His first official performance was in front of former-president Shukri al-Quwatli, and former prime minister, Jamil Mardam Bay. Unlike many Arab performers who have studied art and made their debut in Cairo, Fakhri maintained that his talent is rooted from his homeland, Syria.

Fakhri belongs to a select group of Arab singers who have achieved international fame. He entered the Guinness Book of  Records in 1968 after singing for 10 hours continuously during a concert in Caracas, Venezuela.

Fakhri’s most notable productions include many traditional songs from Aleppo, his hometown, derived from poems of Arab antiquity poets such as Abu Firas al-Hamadani, and Al-Mutanabbi.

His contribution to the revival of Syria’s artistic heritage was widely recognized. Former Syrian President Bashar al-Asad awarded Fakhri the Syrian Order of Merit of Excellence Degree, a distinction awarded for service rendered to Syria and the Arab cause.

In addition to the distinction, Fakhri was awarded many official honorary titles including, but not limited to, Grand Cordon of the Order of Civil Merits in Syria, Commander of the National Order of the Cedar, the highest civil decoration in Lebanon, and Grand Cordon of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite, a military decoration in Morocco bestowed by the king upon those who render the state a grand service.

Fakhri has been described unofficially as the Dean of Arab Tarab and the owner of the Golden Throat. 

Sabah Fakhri, whose career has forever changed the Arab artistic landscape, shall remain forever master of traditional Arab Tarab.