Legendary Arabic diva Warda dies at 72

PanARMENIAN.Net - Algerian singer Warda, whose powerful voice range earned her iconic status throughout the Arab world, died of a heart attack yesterday, May 17 aged 72, her family said, according to The Telegraph.

Known throughout the region as Warda al-Jazairia (Warda the Algerian), she performed for presidents and popular audiences, reinventing herself throughout the decades to appeal to old and young alike.

Warda, whose name means "Rose" in Arabic, will be buried in El Alia cemetery east of Algiers tomorrow.

Born Warda Fatouki in France in 1939 to an Algerian father and Lebanese mother, the singer spent most of her adult life in Egypt.

She lived in Egypt on and off for more than 40 years, and it was in Egypt that she earned cinematic and singing breakthroughs that won her fame across the Middle East. She had at least five lead roles in Egyptian films and about 300 songs to her name.

Warda had a liver transplant 10 years ago, which forced her to give up performing for a number of years.

Algerian Culture Minister Khalifa Toumi stated that the death of "the Algerian rose" meant "one of the most beautiful voices of Algeria and the Arab world has just become silent for ever."

She "has gone leaving behind her a deafening silence and a profound sadness," Toumi said in a message of condolence.