In front of a packed amphitheatre, Lebanese pop icon Nancy Ajram lit up the stage at the Carthage International Festival, delivering a performance that met — and exceeded — the high expectations of her Tunisian fans. It was her long-awaited return to the historic venue, eight years after her debut appearance in 2017, and tickets had sold out well in advance.
Since her breakthrough with the 2003 album Ya Salam, Nancy Ajram has become a household name across the Arab world, blending pop flair with lyrical warmth and emotional sincerity. For over two decades, she has maintained a unique balance of charm, spontaneity, and artistic integrity, embodying both freshness and depth.
A Night of Nostalgia and Rhythm
Ajram took the stage to thunderous applause, opening with the energetic “Badna Nwalla El Jaw.” What followed was a carefully crafted setlist that spanned her career—fusing early-2000s classics with newer crowd favorites. From high-tempo hits like “Ye Tabtab”, “Hobbak Saffah”, “Eddonia Helwa”, “Tigui Nenbesset”, and the iconic “Ah W Noss”, to heartfelt ballads such as “Fi Hagat”, “Albi Ya Albi”, and “Enta Eeh”, the concert was a rollercoaster of rhythm and emotion.
Audience members were on their feet from the first beat, dancing, singing along, and responding with a wave of nostalgic joy. In a memorable moment of fan interaction, Ajram added the song “Ommi” to the lineup after it was requested from the crowd—tightening the bond between star and spectators.
Her lyrical delivery—deceptively simple yet emotionally resonant—ranged from playful to poignant, underscoring her talent for reaching audiences across generations.
An Authentic Presence in an Overproduced World
Ajram’s warm presence on stage, coupled with her candid engagement with the audience, set a tone of intimacy rarely found in large-scale concerts. In an era dominated by hyper-produced soundscapes and conceptual albums, she offered a refreshing, authentic musical experience. Her performance felt like a return to essentials: melody, voice, and genuine emotion.
Many songs stirred waves of nostalgia, visibly moving an audience eager to reconnect with the sounds of their youth. With this concert, Nancy Ajram proved that her music has stood the test of time, continuing to captivate listeners of all ages.
A Tunisian Connection
During a press conference following the performance, Ajram expressed her deep affection for her Tunisian audience. “It’s always special to be back,” she said, emphasizing how much she values the connection with fans in Tunisia. She also hinted at future collaborations with Tunisian songwriters, showing her openness to enriching her musical repertoire through cross-cultural artistic exchange.
As the night came to a close, one thing was clear: Nancy Ajram is not just a pop star—she’s a cultural mainstay, whose voice continues to echo across borders and generations.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Saafi)
