One of Jordan
and the Arab world’s primary cultural celebrations is underway. The Jerash
Festival, inaugurated in 1981 by Her Majesty Queen Noor, is attended by
hundreds of thousands in person and watched by millions on television. A
diverse range of performers take the stage, ranging from Jordanian folk bands
to Circassian dance troupes, but the main attraction this week will be the a-list
of singers partaking in the event. The likes of Lebanon’s legendary Majida El-Roumi,
Iraq’s chart-topping Saif Nabeel, and Syria’s timeless George Wassouf will be
taking center stage. Along with the pan-Arab superstars, 17 Jordanian
vocalists, many of whom are up and coming artists, will be making appearances.
While these seem like a regular set of concerts, they mean a lot for the health
and progress of Arab and Jordanian culture.
اضافة اعلان
For starters,
such a significant event taking place in Jordan can bring Jordan’s artists into
the limelight. Although Jordan’s art is not inferior in any way, shape, or
form, it does not garner much attention beyond the domestic scene in comparison
to Egyptian, Lebanese, and more recently, Iraqi music. A key reason for this
may be the number of record labels and managers working hard to catapult their
country’s singers into stardom: Egypt’s Alam El Phan record label is
responsible for some of the greatest works of modern Arabic music, while the
Casablanca and Al Remas labels have made Iraqi music a regular fixture on Arab
radio. No distribution company on this level operates out of Jordan.
What may balance
out that factor is the hosting of this festival. It is televised to the entire
Arab world, so it can put Jordanian art on the map. The range of musicians
singing Jordanian folk songs can expose the authentic and traditional flavor of
Jordan within the wider spectrum of Arab art. With just the government
continuing to host events like these that support local artists, Jordanian art
can become part of the mainstream repertoire, rather than something seen as
local or niche. No other area of the globe is as interconnected as the Arab world.
The promotion of Jordan’s art in a wider region that speaks the same language
and consumes the same media presents a golden opportunity.
Thinking on a more
immediate level, the hosting of this event and others provides important
economic benefits. Such a large gathering requires a great number of employees,
ranging from security to ticketers to concessions to backup bands. As youth
unemployment in Jordan remains on the rise, it is time that we think outside of
the box in order to get people into the workforce. As the traditional job
market suffers, perhaps looking towards the arts might be a more accepted
career choice. While the number of Jordanian singers was once scarce, the
country’s artists come closer and closer to becoming household names.
Furthemore,
Jerash, one of the world’s best preserved Greco-Roman cities, will attract more
and more visitors from a variety of places. Even if one is not a music
enthusiast, Jerash will gain the spotlight, which may convince a potential
traveler to give it a visit. Although the city, known in ancient times as
Gerasa, possesses spectacular ruins, and has had an uptick of visitors in
recent years, it is often overlooked by outsiders in favor of Petra and the
Dead Sea. Jordan simply isn’t a country associated with Greco-Roman heritage,
which is a shame because of the specific brilliance of those sites within its
borders. Increased tourism becomes increased revenue, and will bolster the long-term
development of the country.
Hosting the
Jerash Festival may bring great tidings to Jordan’s cultural scene and give a
much needed boost to its economy. The state sponsorship of art is commendable,
as we may see more and more Jordanians enter the light of stardom. Aside from
the art itself, such events bring about a wide array of opportunities to
Jordanians of all skill levels and backgrounds. Countries that fund their
artists become mass exporters of culture and increase their reputation through
a beautiful medium. The exposure of Jordan’s song, dance, visual art, and the
many other aspects of our rich heritage can bring about improvement on the
local and global stage, and it all begins with the center stage of Jerash’s
ancient theater.
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Opinion and Analysis
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