French is not his forte, music is

Dubai: Ahmad Bu Khatir, 36, an Emirati from Sharjah and popular singer, faced a new challenge on Thursday night — singing to an expectant room of French Business Council members, in French.

He is likely the only nasheed singer, a term for a cappella Arabic singing on Quranic themes, from the GCC that has composed and sings in French.

Clutching a trade mark Swarovski crystal-encrusted microphone, the young singer gave the audience a rendition of his song Pourquoi les hommes pleurent? (Why do people cry?) which features on his current album, Moments with Allah.

Bu Khatir does not speak French fluently but has dabbled in the language since his first lessons at the Alliance Française in Dubai, more than eight years ago.

"I introduced French in my last album, I'm not perfect [in French] but I love the French language," said Bu Khatir.

Singing nasheed songs in French offers something new to his fans, he said, and any topic can be sung in any language.

Subjects

"I do sing in Arabic, English and now French. I would sing in more languages if I could. Nasheed songs are spiritual songs, before it was different and traditional songs were very Islamic. Today I can sing about whatever issues are ongoing and offer a solution," he told Gulf News before going on stage at the Godolphin Ballroom in Emirates Towers.

Subjects on his album include parent-children relationships such as the neglect of parents in old age, or the inevitability of death and the need to lead a good life.

Bu Khatir spent one month in Vichy, France to perfect his French when he was studying the language and enjoyed being immersed in a community that did not speak English, much less any other languages.

It is his hope that more support will be extended to young Arab singers who have an interest in nasheed singing. "New singers are not really supported. Other types of music don't seem to struggle as much to be recognised or sponsored but it is time for new art in the world to come forward," said Bu Khatir.

His French song is one of the ‘most loved' by his fan base. His future projects include a peace album to bring awareness and help to children that are victims of war.

The French Business Council in Dubai was created in 1987 and has more than 450 members. Bu Khatir's ties with the French Consulate landed him as main performer at the FBC's annual gala dinner, last week. "I'm a bit nervous. It's something new but I keep telling myself it will be easy."