Najwa Karam

Najwa Karam (Arabic: نجوى كرم‎  Lebanese pronunciation: ) (born 26 February 1966) is a Lebanese multi-Platinum, best-selling recording artist in the Middle East, who has sold over 60 million records worldwide. Najwa, widely known for her vocal powerhouse, has surpassed Middle Eastern musical limits in building her Empire, as she has effectively helped change the Arabic music industry in its outreach. Having left her mark by creating and introducing her own blend of traditional and contemporary Arabic Music, Najwa has defined her image and her music in the Middle East and throughout the world, contributing to the spread of the Lebanese dialect in Arabic Music. Apart from her singing career, Najwa is a Middle Eastern fashion icon as well as the main Judge on the hit television show Arabs' Got Talent. Najwa holds the titles of highest-selling Middle Eastern Artist for the years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2008. Having earned her well-known title, Shams el-Ghinnieh (The Sun of Song), Najwa's domination of the Arabic Music industry began in 1994 through 1999, when she had major successes with albums, such as Naghmet Hob, Ma Bassmahlak and Maghroumeh. In 1999, her album Rouh Rouhi, topped the charts throughout the Arab world, and in 2000, Najwa's album Oyoun Qalbi brought Najwa's greatest success yet, as it sold over 5 million albums worldwide, holding the up-to-date record for best-selling Arabic-language album of all time. In 2001 Najwa's album Nedmaneh sold over 4 million copies worldwide, and is one of Najwa's most-acclaimed albums to date. The success of Nedmaneh earned Najwa numerous awards, including a coveted Murex D'or award for Best Arabic Artist and additional awards from Najwa's record company, Rotana Records: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Highest-Selling Album. By the time of the release of "Saharni" in 2003, Najwa had established the status of pop icon in the Middle East. Najwa's more recent albums, such as Shu Mghaiara, Hayda Haki, Am Bemzah Ma'ak, and Hal Leile...MaFi Noum, have all sold millions of copies and achieved great success, earning her numerous awards and recognitions worldwide. Her many singles, such as "Shou Jani" and "Lashhad Hobbak" have also topped music charts. One of the best-selling Arabic artists in history, Najwa has participated in countless festivals and concerts around the globe, and has received a number of awards and accolades from various distinguished bodies. In her other works, Najwa has collaborated with musician and composer Melhem Barakat, as well as with Wadih el Safi on a single titled "W Kberna" ("We Grow Old Together"), which achieved major success throughout the Middle East. Also, Najwa is a sponsor and spokesperson for Pearl Properties, a UAE real-estate company, which features her in their advertisement commercials. The Lebanese idol has also established herself as a television superstar, winning thousands of new fans through her appearance as the main judge on MBC 4’s mega hit Arabs' Got Talent, which became a television sensation across the Arab World. Then in 2011, a new era in music media was marked when Najwa Karam, in collaboration with Sony Entertainment and Rotana, produced the Middle East's very first 3D music video, for her song, "MaFi Noum". Najwa is one of Rotana's most-important and highest-paid artists.