Salwa Al Katrib (also spelled ''Salwa Al Qatrib'', ar, سلوى القطريب; 17 September 1953 – 4 March 2009) was a Lebanese singer and stage actress best known for her roles in ''Emerald Princess'' (''Al Amira Zmurrod'') and ''Mountain Girl'' (''Bent Al Jabal''). She was the wife of Nahi Lahoud and the mother of aspiring Lebanese actress and singer

Aline Lahoud Aline Lahoud ( ar, ألين لحود; born 2 March 1981) is a Lebanese singer. Life Lahoud's parents are Salwa Al Katrib and producer Nahi Lahoud. She studied singing and dramatic art from 1997 until 1999. In 2002, she received a BA degree i ...

. She enjoyed most of her fame in the theatrical circle in Lebanon and the Arab world between 1974 and 2005. She died of

cerebral hemorrhage Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), also known as cerebral bleed, intraparenchymal bleed, and hemorrhagic stroke, or haemorrhagic stroke, is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain, into its ventricles, or into both. It is one kind of bleed ...

in 2009.

Biography

Salwa Al Katrib was born on 17 September 1953 in

Tripoli, Lebanon Tripoli ( ar, طرابلس/ALA-LC: ''Ṭarābulus'', Lebanese Arabic: ''Ṭrablus'') is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in the country. Situated north of the capital Beirut, it is the capital of the North Gove ...

, to a family of musicians, her father being the musician Saliba Al Katrib. Her talent was discovered by Lebanese playwright and theater director

Romeo Lahoud Romeo Raphael Lahoud ( ar, روميو روفايل لحود; 22 January 1931 – 22 November 2022) was a Lebanese theatre director, composer, and author. Biography After studying at the Saint Joseph School, Lahoud began his career in 1955 as an ...

. Salwa's was first cast by Lahoud in a play called "Singof Singof" with former Miss Universe

Georgina Rizk Georgina Rizk ( ar, جورجينا رزق, Jūrjīnā Rizq, born 23 July 1953) is a Lebanese model, socialite, and beauty queen. She represented Lebanon at the Miss Universe pageant and won, making her the first Lebanese and Middle Eastern/West ...

and singer

Tony Hanna Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leag ...

in 1975. She won many awards throughout her career. Subsequently, in 1975 Said Akl awarded Katrib for her acting and singing abilities. She played in 12 musicals under the direction of Romeo Lahoud: "Bint el Jabal" with Antoine Kerbage in 1977, then with

Melhem Barakat Melhem Barakat ( ar, ملحم بركات‎; 15 August 1945 – 28 October 2016), also known as Melhim Barakat, or Abou Majd was a Lebanese singer, songwriter, and melodist. Barakat was a well-renowned singer in Lebanon and the wider Arab wor ...

in "Amira Zmorrod". In 1979, she sang with Elie Choueri in "Oxygene". In 1980, she played "Yasmine" with Abdo Yaghi. In 1982, she was "Superstar" with Alec Khalaf. In 1983, she played in "Hikayat Amal" with Ghassan Saliba and

Elias Elias Elias is the Greek equivalent of Elijah ( he, אֵלִיָּהוּ‎ ''ʾĒlīyyāhū''; Syriac: ܐܠܝܐ ''Eliyā''; Arabic: الیاس Ilyās/Elyās), a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 9th century BC, mentioned in several holy ...

. Simone Marouani, the artistic director of the French singer

Serge Lama Serge Lama (born Serge Claude Bernard Chauvier on 11 February 1943 in Bordeaux) is a French singer and songwriter. His most famous song is '' Je suis malade'', written with Alice Dona. It has been written for Dalida and later performed by a nu ...

proposed to Salwa to become an international star in France and the US. Salwa came to the attention of Simone through a TV show aired on the French national television channel

TF1 TF1 (; standing for ''Télévision Française 1'') is a French commercial television network owned by TF1 Group, controlled by the Bouygues conglomerate. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network. TF1 is par ...

. Simone proposed to meet in Casino du Liban in September 1984 after Lama's concernt there. Salwa was represented by her husband Nahi and Romeo her brother-in-law. The two men were enthusatic about the deal but they were met with Salwa's refusal because she didn't want to leave her young daughter Aline. In 1985, she was the star on "Al Hilm el Talett", and she performed at the festival of

Bosra Bosra ( ar, بُصْرَىٰ, Buṣrā), also spelled Bostra, Busrana, Bozrah, Bozra and officially called Busra al-Sham ( ar, بُصْرَىٰ ٱلشَّام, Buṣrā al-Shām), is a town in southern Syria, administratively belonging to the Dara ...

in Syria, and at the festival of

Timgad Timgad ( ar, تيمقاد, links=, lit=, translit=Tīmgād, known as Marciana Traiana Thamugadi) was a Roman city in the Aurès Mountains of Algeria. It was founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan around 100 AD. The full name of the city was ''Colon ...

in Algeria. She sang more than 150 songs composed by Romeo Lahoud,

Zaki Nassif Zaki Nassif ( ar, زكي ناصيف; 4 July 1918 – 10 March 2004) was a Lebanese music composer and singer. He was influential among the first generation of composers for the mass audience for music on radio in Lebanon in the 1940s and 1950s, ...

Toufic Bacha Tawfik ( ar, توفيق), or Tewfik, is an Arabic masculine given name. The name is derived from the Arabic root: waaw-faa-qaaf (), which means to agree or to reconcile. Tawfik translates to, "the ability or opportunity to achieve success". A spe ...

, Elie Choueri,

Elias Rahbani Elias Hanna Al Rahbani ( ar, إلياس حنا الرحباني; 26 June 1938 – 4 January 2021) was a Lebanese musician, composer, songwriter, orchestra conductor, and reality television personality, sitting as judge on a number of talent sho ...

and Melhem Barakat. In 1986 Romeo traveled to Paris, met with the Marouanis and returned with five-year contract which Salwa also refused.

Awards

She won many awards, including, a "Special Award of Appreciation" from the mayor of Los Angeles in 1989; the "Jarash Event First Prize" and the Jordanian government's promotion and prestige in 1987%, the first prize of the Gold Eagle in

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the centre of the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. ...

for her song "Zikrayate" in 1986. She also won the

Murex d'Or The Murex d'Or (also known as the Golden Murex award) is a Lebanon, Lebanese award created by two Lebanon, Lebanese physicians, Zahi and Fadi Helou to recognize achievements in the domain of art in Lebanon, the Arab world, Arab region and the wor ...

in 2005 and in 2009.

King Hussein Hussein bin Talal ( ar, الحسين بن طلال, ''Al-Ḥusayn ibn Ṭalāl''; 14 November 1935 – 7 February 1999) was King of Jordan from 11 August 1952 until his death in 1999. As a member of the Hashemite dynasty, the royal family of ...

of Jordan, presidents

Camille Chamoun Camille Nimr Chamoun OM, ONC ( ar, كميل نمر شمعون, ''Kamīl Sham'ūn''; 3 April 1900 – 7 August 1987) was a Lebanese politician who served as President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958. He was one of the country's main Christi ...

Amine Gemayel Amine Pierre Gemayel ( ar, أمين بيار الجميٌل ; (born 22 January 1942) is a Lebanese Maronite politician who served as President of Lebanon from 1982 to 1988. Born in Bikfaya, his father was Pierre Gemayel, the founder of the K ...

Michel Aoun Michel Naim Aoun ( ar, ميشال نعيم عون ; born 30 September 1933) is a Lebanese politician and former military general who served as the President of Lebanon from 31 October 2016 until 30 October 2022. Born in Haret Hreik to a Mar ...

and

Elias Hrawi Elias Hrawi ( ar, الياس الهراوي, 4 September 1926 – 7 July 2006) was president of Lebanon, whose term of office ran from 1989 to 1998. Early life and education Hrawi was born in Hawch Al Umara, Zahlé, to a wealthy landowning Maro ...

were her most famous supporters. Mohamad Abelwahab the great Egyptian composer asked her to sing his famous "Anta Omri". Her last appearance on TV was with Neshan Der Haroutounian in "Maestro" (2005). In 2006, she decided to stop singing because she was astonished by the degradation of the artistic situation in Lebanon.

Death and legacy

She died on 4 March 2009, aged 55. She was widely famous and respected in the Arab world. President

Michel Suleiman Michel Suleiman ( ar, ميشال سليمان ; born 21 November 1948) is a Lebanese Maronite Christian politician who served as President of Lebanon from 2008 to 2014. Before becoming president, he served as commander of the Lebanese Armed Force ...

honored her by giving her the golden medal of the Lebanese republic. She was married to Nahi Lahoud her producer and artistic director. Shortly after her death, her husband announced that he is in the process of working on a tribute film honoring her artistic life.

Work

Theatre

* Singof Singof : 1974 * Bint El Jabal : 1977 * Amira Zomrod : 1978 * Ismal bi Albi : 1978 * Oxygene : 1979 * Yasmine : 1980 * Superstar : 1982 * Hikayat Amal : 1983 * Helm Thalett : 1985 * Bint El Jabal : 1988 (remake) * Yasmine : 1998 (remake)

Television

*Alwane 1975 (Tele Liban with Riad Charara) *Layali Sheherazade 1980 (Tele Liban with Georges Chalhoub) *Salwa Show 1 1984 (Tele Liban with Ghassan Saliba) *Independence Day 1984 (Tele Liban with Raymonde Anghelopoulo) *Salwa show 2 1985 (Tele Liban with

Ferial Karim Ferial Karim ( ar, فريال كريم, translit=Faryāl Karīm; 16 April 1938 – 4 July 1988) was a Lebanese actress and singer known for her comedian roles and parodies. Ferial was introduced to show business at a very young age by her ...

) *Studio 86 1986 (Jordan TV) *Women in the Independence 1994 (LBC) *The Eyes of Christmas 1996 (Tele Liban) *Jerash Festival 1987 (Jordanian Television with Abdo Yaghi & Alain Merheb ) *Byblos Festival 1987 1992–1998 (LBC) *Sahrate Charqiah 1988 (LBC) *Tyr Festival 1991 (Mashrek TV with Nadim Berberi) *Special Evening 1993 (Tele Liban with Romeo Lahoud) *Sahra Gheir Chikil 1993 (Tle Liban) *Doyouf El Sabett 1985 (LBC with Simon Asmar) *Al Leyl il maftouhh 1997 (Futur TV) *Maestro 2005 (NTV with Aline Lahoud & Nichan) *Sini aan sini 1997 (MTV with Hyam Abouchedid) *Army Day 2001 (LBC with Maggy Aoun)

Awards and distinctions

*Prix Said Akl (1976) *Key of Alger (1984) *Jerash Art Appreciation (1987) *Award of Appreciation LA (1989) *Scoop d'Or (1987) *Gold Medal Independence (1991) *Gold Eagle of Arab Song (1996) *Gold Medal of the Army (2001) *Murex d'Or (2005) *Medaille d'or du merite libanais (2009) *Murex d'or (2009) *Award of Appreciation from Amsheet Municipality (2009) *Award of Appreciation from Balamand University (2010) *Award of Appreciation from Arts & Music Institute (2011) *Award of Appreciation from Saint-Coeurs College (2011)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Katrib, Salwa Al 1953 births 2009 deaths Lebanese stage actresses Lebanese television actresses 20th-century Lebanese women singers People from Tripoli, Lebanon Lebanese Christians