MAHER ZAIN READY TO WOW CAPE
WITH more than 1.8billion views of his music videos, 26million fans and 3.8million Instagram hits, Maher Zain is the world’s most popular Muslim singer.
And while his fame has spread, the Lebanese-born musician, who jetted into the Mother City a few days ago, remains modest and humble about his achievements.
At two public appearances this week, one organised by the Swedish embassy at the Taj Hotel on Wednesday night, and a press conference atop Table Mountain yesterday, he spoke about how he wished to reach out to people through the universal language of music.
Through the evocative, diverse and lilting sounds of his songs, backed by a band where mixed origins are key, he puts forward a message of love, peace and respect, touching people the world over with a captivating fusion of East and West.
Zain sings mainly in English, although he has also released some of his most popular songs in other languages.
These include which is available in English, French, Arabic, Turkish, Malay and Indonesian versions.
Other popular songs of his include One Big Family and
Freedom, a song inspired by the Arab Spring that shook the Arab world in 2011.
As testament to his popularity locally, tickets were sold out well before the two concerts he will perform at the Artscape at the weekend.
But the good news is that audiences will be treated, according to the entertainer, to something never experienced before.
Zain will be fronting his own ensemble, featuring talented musicians from Egypt, Spain, Lebanon, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK, accompanied by the 45-piece Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Brandon Phillips.
The singer, songwriter and producer told fans this week he was really honoured and happy to be here.
“We have practised together now for two days, and the audience can really look forward to some incredible music. There will also be something new and fresh and appealing. we’ll do our best.”