An Arabic dancer _220
A RECORD number of visitors attended the start of Liverpool’s Arabic Arts Festival 2008.
More than 5,000 people headed to Sefton Park’s Palm House yesterday for the event, as part of the two-week Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival 2008, which runs until July 27.
The seventh annual festival is a celebration of cultural activity and the arts from across the Arab world, and organisers have pro- mised their biggest- ever programme, with more than 30 events.
The collective of semi-nomadic musicians, storytellers and coffee grinders from the Egyptian Sinai desert performed songs and poetry about ancient Arabian Tribes.
The day also featured Say’un Popular Arts, a group of musicians
from the southern Yemeni region of Hadhramaut.
Festival manager Gozi Ikoku said: “It has to be a record turnout, partly due to the fact people now know about the event and the beautiful weather. People of all ages and nationalities came. Its success, I think, is because these art forms people can connect to and the food is another route into the culture.”
Forthcoming festival highlights include’s the Bluecoat hosting Reem Kelani from 8pm on Wednesday.
The critically acclaimed Palestinian composer fuses classical Arabic music with folk and jazz.
