JEDDAH: Music concerts are now being aired by at least one official Saudi TV station after a decades-long suspension of such broadcasts, in a move welcomed by many on social media.
A performance by the late Umm Kulthum, who is known as the “Lady of Arab Singing,” was the first to be aired on the Saudi cultural channel Al-Thaqafiya on Tuesday.
“Today at 12:00 a.m. we will present to you a musical concert of the late Lady of Arab Singing Umm Kulthum. Stay tuned,” it said through its official Twitter account.
The move is the latest in a string of social changes made in the Kingdom, and follows last month’s decree by King Salman to lift the ban on women driving.
Many Saudis tweeted back in praise of the decision to air music concerts. Munirah Al-Ghamdi, who tweets @MunirahAHG, welcomed the return of “normal life that … stopped three decades ago. Life is back to our television, the days of the 70s and 80s are back! Thank you,” wrote another Twitter user.
Umm Kulthum was one of the Arab world’s most prominent 20th century singers.
Tweeps sing praises as music concerts return to Saudi TV
Tweeps sing praises as music concerts return to Saudi TV
