58th Edition of the Carthage International Festival



Epic Tale of Love and Passion: Nawbet Gharam at Carthage Festival 58th Edition

The evening of Monday, August 12, began on an emotional note with a tribute to the late artist Yasser Jradi, who passed away that morning. The audience shared in this symbolic homage through the projection of a selection of sequences in which Jradi spoke about life, his passion for art, and his eternal love for music. This touching tribute resonated deeply with the attendees, reflecting a collective mourning of a profound loss.


Centered around the theme of pure love, encompassing dreams, passion, suffering, delirium, and poetically expressed memories, "Nawbet Gharam" depicted a poetic, choreographic, musical, and orchestral waltz dedicated to Nejma, his childhood sweetheart. Directed by composer Mohamed Ali Kammoun and conducted by maestro Mohamed Bouslama, this musical comedy brought the audience into a world where the beauty of love was vividly portrayed.


Spanning nearly two and a half hours, the audience was immersed in a tumultuous love story portrayed by approximately 150 artists, including singers with diverse vocal timbres. The duo Meriem Othmani and Oussema Nebli (winners of the Golden Microphone and El Wataniya Prize at the 21st edition of the Tunisian Song Festival 2023) were among the artists of varying ages who performed alongside professional actors and dancers. They delivered an ode to love, envisioned by screenwriter Amal Chekili, in this work inspired by one of the poems of the late poet Nourredine Samoud. The project paid homage to Samoud, using lyrics and texts by Syrine Chekili.


The audience was transported into a tale of passion and love, torn between the depths of nostalgia, pain, and loss. This journey was set against the backdrop of varied melodies and sounds, ranging from folklore to jazz, presented by a philharmonic orchestra comprising around forty musicians. The orchestra performed over twenty pieces that punctuated the course of this epic, including "Nghanni" (I Sing), "Tfakkarni" (Remember Me), and "Jounoun" (Madness). These pieces referenced the story of Amor, the poetically infatuated lover, and Nejma, who was consumed by the madness of fame.


Combining theatrical performance, narration, singing, music, and dance, the spectacle's scenography was crafted by Bilel Ben Romdhane and directed by Walid Ayadi. The audience was captivated by the seamless fusion of art forms that brought to life a narrative of love and passion. This artistic endeavor not only celebrated the work of Nourredine Samoud but also underscored the enduring power of love and art to transcend time and touch the human soul.