Ain’t misbehavin’: Saudis flock to Riyadh for their first jazz festival
▶ The concert was the latest move in Riyadh’s efforts to build up an entertainments sector
Men and women swayed to the music at Saudi Arabia’s first jazz festival on Friday, the second of a three-day outdoor event that shows to the world the kingdom’s work to create an entertainments industry.
Locals and foreigners flocked to watch bands from Riyadh, Beirut and New Orleans. The crowd sang along when Lebanon’s Chady Nashef performed the Eagles’ Hotel California.
It was an unusual moment in the country after the religious police last year condemned concerts that feature singing as harmful and corrupting.
Last week the General Entertainment Authority said it would stage more than 5,000 shows, festivals and concerts this year, twice as many as last year.
The plans are part of a reform programme to diversify the economy away from oil and create jobs for young Saudis.
They also mark a change in social Saudi life and the gradual relaxing of gender segregation, although restrictions persist.
At the festival, the area in front of the stage was divided into two sections – one for men and one for women – but people mixed in family seating areas on the side and in the back.
“I am so happy I got up from bed this morning and went to a jazz festival and performed in front of a crowd like me, my countrymen,” said Saleh Zaid, a musician from the band Min Riyadh. “It’s a feeling I just cannot explain to you.”
While some showed up out of a love for jazz, many came to enjoy the chance to hear music at an outdoor event with food trucks and a vintage car display.
While reforms have taken place in the kingdom, with a 35-year cinema ban lifted and women able to drive this year, most of the country is conservative, which is reflected in government decisions.
This month, authorities detained a man after a video of him dancing with a woman in the street went viral.
But on Friday, women in abayas moved with the music, unconcerned about any backlash.
“This festival shows that the leadership here wants to let the people open up, to see more things, more cultures,” said Salem Al Ahmed, who with his friends jumped at the opportunity to attend his city’s festival.
Saudi Arabia has demonstrated in words and deeds over recent months how transformation is sweeping through the country, spearheaded by a succession of reforms introduced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Only last week, it was announced that women no longer need consent from a male relative to start their own business. This follows previous initiatives to open up society, including relaxing its cinema ban. These moves have been matched by a crackdown on corruption. On Friday, in a further representation of the mood music, the country staged its first-ever jazz festival. This is a moment of profound change, an occasion when there is a clear vision that is being mapped into reality. Taken in isolation, the news that Saudi Arabia has broken ground on the site of the country’s first opera house may seem like a small part of a broad narrative, certainly when put in the context of it being part of a $64 billion investment in the country’s entertainment sector over the next 10 years. But its opening will provide some interesting possibilities, not just for the kingdom but for the region too.
It is now almost seven years since the Royal Opera House was inaugurated in Muscat with a season of productions that included Puccini’s Turandot and Bizet’s Carmen. Two years ago, Dubai Opera’s grand opening was marked by a spectacular performance from Placido Domingo, one of the most well-known stars of today. Close to two years later, the venue continues to host an inspiring and diverse programme.
Once Saudi Arabia’s opera house opens its doors, touring companies will be able to map a proper regional tour of the Gulf, possibly taking in all three venues. We have seen in the past, in the sports of golf and tennis, in particular, how the establishment of “desert sweeps” have helped attract top performers to play for several weeks of competition across the region. It’s easy to see the same happening in our cultural calendar too. If it does, we will have plenty to look forward to.