Programs & Events 2008
Diverse audience enjoys Embassy program with country western singer Kareem Salama
July 14-15, 08
American Muslim, Country and Western singer Kareem Salama performed in Paris as part of a State Department European concert tour. On July 14, France’s National Day, Salama gave a free concert to a full house of country music fans at Billy Bob’s Disneyland Resort Paris. Country music has grown in popularity in France for the last few years and the Disneyland Resort Paris is a key stage for any young Country talent entering Europe’s musical market. On July 15, Salama participated in three different French and Arabic-speaking media interviews (RMC Doualiya radio station, online news SpahirNews.com and BeurFM) about his work, his upbringing, his spirituality and what it means for him to be a Muslim country singer in America. To conclude his program in France, Salama traveled to a community youth organization in an eastern suburb of Paris where he met with a group of young French teens participating in a summer music session. The children gave a freestyle rap performance, then Salama introduced them to Country music and offered a brief show of his own. Via translators from the embassy, the children and Salama exchanged their lyrics and engaged in a discussion about the issues they addressed, such as violence in urban communities and family values. To conclude this positive educational experience, the teenagers confessed Salama’s music was much more interesting than they had expected!
