How did Mohammed Assaf get his name Asaroukh?
He was given the nickname Asaroukh (“The Rocket”) by Lebanese singer and Arab Idol judge Ragheb Alama. Assaf was acclaimed by the jury and the public. His voice and appearance have drawn comparisons to Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez, which has garnered Assaf both fame and controversy.
How did Mohammed Assaf get to Arab Idol?
Sometime after his first performance, he sang in a local event in Gaza attended by late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. Mohammad Assaf traveled from Gaza Strip to Egypt to audition for Arab Idol. It took him two days to reach Egypt by car due to complications on the border.
What was the name of the movie about Mohammed Assaf?
Assaf’s story is the basis of the 2015 film The Idol, directed by Hany Abu-Assad. After Arab Idol, Assaf has gone on to enjoy huge popularity in the Arab World and the Arab diaspora and has released two albums and a great number of singles and collaborations.
How is Mohammed Assaf related to Halim Hafez?
Assaf was acclaimed by the jury and the public. His voice and appearance have drawn comparisons to Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez, which has garnered Assaf both fame and controversy. Fans merged part of Hafez’s name with Assaf’s, as in Assaf Hilm Falastine (“Assaf Palestine’s Dream”).
Why was Mohammed Assaf banned from entering Israel?
Israel has imposed an entry ban on Mohammed Assaf, the Palestinian singer of “Arab Idol” fame, in a decision described by the star as oppressive. Assaf was the winner of the 2013 Arab Idol singing contest, becoming hugely popular largely due to his patriotic pro-Palestine songs.
Who is Mohammed Assaf from the Arab Idol?
Mohammed Assaf, an aspiring musician living in Gaza, sets a seemingly impossible goal: to compete on the program “Arab Idol.” Since his early years in his native Gaza, Mohammed Assaf has had a golden voice.