Wahbe, Haifa
(1976–)

Lebanon's top model, designer, pop star, and former Miss South Lebanon, Haifa Wahbe (Wehbe, Wehbi) is a Lebanese singer who has played a major role in the entertainment industry in the Arab world in the last several years.

PERSONAL HISTORY

Wahbe was born on 10 March 1976, to a Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim father and Egyptian Coptic Christian mother in Mahruna, Lebanon. She was a beautiful child, with dreams of stardom, and at sixteen won the title of Miss South Lebanon. From there she went on to compete in the Miss Lebanon Competition in 1995. She was the runner-up, but was stripped of this title after it was learned that she was married and had a child. Undaunted, she modeled and became highly sought after, appearing in 1996 on more than one hundred magazine covers. During her time as a model, she and her husband divorced. Under

Lebanese divorce and child custody laws, the father is awarded custody, and he decided to keep Haifa from seeing her child. To date she has still not been allowed visitation. In 2005 she was engaged to Saudi businessman Tariq al-Jafali, but the engagement was broken off, many say due to her controversial songs, actions, and dress, making her allegedly an unfit Muslim wife.

INFLUENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Wahbe was influenced by both jazz and Rhythm and Blues, which she listened to growing up. She was also influenced by the death of her only brother, who died at the age of twenty four, due to the Arab-Israeli conflict. She has also stated that she greatly admires hasan nasrallah, the leader of Hizbullah, because he fights for Lebanon. Despite the claims of her critics, she has not forgotten her roots and she uses traditional instruments in many of her songs. Wahbe has contributed to her home state by many charity works. She additionally has contributed to the rise of sexuality in music being played and being shown on television in Lebanon.

THE WORLD'S PERSPECTIVE

Wahbe has broad appeal. She is well known in the Middle East and apparently was even well liked by the grandsons of saddam hussein. In Egypt there is a movement against her and others that the Egyptian government deems as showing reprehensible behavior, calling hers close to prostitution. Her popularity in other countries outside of the Arab world is mixed and she still is not widely known internationally, except for the many controversies that swirl around her.

BIOGRAPHICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Name: Haifa Wahbe (Wehbe, Wehbi)

Birth: 1976, Mahruna, Lebanon

Family: Divorced; one daughter: Zaynab

Nationality: Lebanese

PERSONAL CHRONOLOGY:

• 1992: Named Miss South Lebanon
• 1995: Runner-up for Miss Lebanon, but title was revoked because she was married and had a daughter
• 2002: Releases first album Huwa al-Zaman (It is time)
• 2004: Voted Best Young Arabic Female Singer by al-Jumhuriyya newspaper
• 2005: Releases second album Baddi A'ish (I want to live); participates in pan-Arab reality show The Valley; wins Beauty and Arts Award at the International Petra Beauty Festival in Jordan
• 2006: Releases the single "Bus al-Wawa"; becomes the first Arab artist to introduce and play as an opening act for hip-hop star 50 Cent; ranks 49th of top 99 Most Desirable Women by AskMen.com; appears on an Egyptian Satellite Channel show, Malakat

CONTEMPORARIES

Lebanese singer Najwa Karam (1966–) is a popular Lebanese pop star who has become a paramount multi-award winner. Karam's rise to fame started with her appearance on the television singing contest Layali Lubnan (Nights of Lebanon) in 1985. Singing her Mowals (traditional Lebanese folklore) with a strong high pitch mountain voice, Najwa gained the warm acceptance and admiration of the audience and walked away with the Gold Medal for a great performance. Since 1985 Karam has released more than a dozen successful albums. Her albums Naghmet Hob (The rhythm of love), Nedmaneh (I have regrets) and Oyoun Qalbi (Eyes of heart) have won her numerous awards including "Best Arabic Artist," "Artist of the Year," "Album of the Year," "Highest Selling Album," and "Best Singer of Traditional Lebanese Song." Karam's career, which spans more than two decades, has made her one of the most popular pop stars in the Arab world.

LEGACY

She has performed many good works for her community, most notably touring areas of Lebanon damaged during the 2006 fighting between Israel and Hizbullah, as well as trying to raise the nation's morale through benefits and charity work. One tourism student put it perfectly in the Sunday Telegraph on 5 November 2006, "Haifa's music offers an escape from the daily tension of Lebanon's politics, and she is certainly easier to dance to than Hizbullah war songs." Wahbe has teamed up with the Red Ribbon Campaign against AIDS. She will be featured in a 2008 calendar and book, with proceeds benefiting the campaign.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bayoumy, Yara. "Hizbullah Chief Wins Unlikely Fan in Sexy Pop Diva." 30 October 2006. Available from http://www.reuters.com.

"Haifa Wahbi Doubts Elissa's World Music Award." Arabic Nights: Arabic Entertainment Directory. Updated 1 January 2007. Available from http://www.arabicnights.com.au/news.

Hirst, Michael, "Lebanese Pop Diva Backs Hezbollah Sheikh to Defend Country's Honour." Sunday Telegraph, 5 November 2006.

Sela, Yohai. "Haifa Wehbe—Portrait of a Lebanese Female Vocalist." Omedia.com. Available from http://www.omedia.com.

                                        Khodr M. Zaarour

WAHBE'S WORDS

I believe the whole world knows who started this war (Israeli-Hizbullah conflict in 2006) and who aggressed on whose land. There isn't a war that starts from nothing and he who begins is the unjust one.

HAIFA WAHBE IN HIRST, MICHAEL, "LEBANESE POP DIVA BACKS HEZBOLLAH SHEIKH TO DEFEND COUNTRY'S HONOUR." SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, 5 NOVEMBER 2006.