Kadim Al Sahir is an Iraqi musician, composer and songwriter who rose to fame in the 1990s. Known as Iraq’s “Caesar of Arabic Song”, Al Sahir was one of the most popular singers in Iraq and the Arab world in the 90s and 2000s. However, after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the ensuing war, Al Sahir went into self-imposed exile and has kept a relatively low profile in recent years. So where exactly is Kadim Al Sahir now in 2023 and what has he been up to in the past decade?
Al Sahir’s Background
Kadim Al Sahir was born in Mosul, Iraq in 1957. He displayed an early talent for music and was composing his own songs by age 9. Al Sahir studied music in Baghdad and graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts in Iraq in 1983. He released his first album, Ma Uridu Al-Haya (This is What I Want from Life) in 1984.
Al Sahir’s soulful ballads about love and longing struck a chord with audiences across the Arab world. He released several more popular albums in the late 1980s and 1990s, cementing his status as one of the Arab world’s biggest pop stars. He performed sold-out concerts from Tunisia to Bahrain. Some of Al Sahir’s most iconic hits include Madrasat Al-Hob (School of Love), Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Kalimat (Words), and Adini (My Religion).
Exile After the Iraq War
Al Sahir’s career faltered after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He frequently criticized the occupation and performed a provocative concert in Baghdad in 2007. As the security situation deteriorated over the years, the outspoken singer went into self-imposed exile. He relocated to the United Arab Emirates, living between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Al Sahir has given very few interviews or public appearances over the past decade. However, he still periodically releases new albums and songs. In 2007, he released an acclaimed album titled Kadim, his first record in five years. His albums continue to top charts, showing that his popularity endures across the Arab world.
Recent Activities
Although he keeps a low profile, Kadim Al Sahir has not completely retreated from public life. According to media reports, he continues to spend most of his time in the UAE. However, he has made occasional concert appearances in the past few years:
- In 2015, Al Sahir performed in front of a sold-out crowd of over 30,000 fans at the Bahrain International Stadium in Manama. It was his first major concert in four years.
- In December 2016, he sang at the opening ceremony of the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre in Abu Dhabi.
- In 2017, Al Sahir held a concert in Cairo, Egypt, his first performance there in over a decade.
- In 2021, he performed a concert in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh for the first time in 30 years.
So while Al Sahir does not tour or release music as frequently as he used to, he can still draw big crowds when he does perform. The legendary singer remains hugely popular not just in his native Iraq but across the Middle East.
Personal Life
Very little is known about Kadim Al Sahir’s personal life, as he is extremely private and protective of his family. He is reportedly married to Alaa Abdelzahra, an Iraqi woman who he met while studying at the Institute of Fine Arts in the 1970s. They wed sometime in the late 1980s. Al Sahir and his wife have two children together: a son named Zain El Abidine and a daughter named Fatima Zahra.
Not much is publicly known about his family members. There are no official accounts for them on social media platforms. Al Sahir apparently wishes to shield them entirely from fame and media attention. The family seems to divide their time between the UAE and intermittent visits back to Iraq when security allows it.
Musical Style and Legacy
Kadim Al Sahir is renowned for his emotional, romantic ballads and sophisticated compositions. He has composed hundreds of popular songs and released dozens of albums over his long career. Some key features of his music include:
- Classical Arabic poetry – Al Sahir is known for sophisticated lyrics featuring medieval Arabic poetry, verses by renowned poets like Al-Mutanabbi and Elia Abu Madi.
- Orchestral arrangements – His music often features lush orchestral arrangements, with violins and other instruments creating a haunting, melancholic atmosphere.
- Soaring vocals – Al Sahir has a smooth, evocative tenor voice with a wide vocal range.
- Fusion sounds – He fuses traditional Arabic melodies with elements of Western pop and classical music.
- Romantic themes – His lyrical themes primarily revolve around love, longing, nostalgia for the past.
Al Sahir’s enduring popularity across generations shows that his music has a timeless, cross-cultural appeal. His haunting love songs and ballads are popular at weddings and gatherings across the Arab world. He has influenced many younger Arab pop stars. Al Sahir is regarded as a national treasure in his homeland Iraq in particular.
So while he may be out of the limelight now, Kadim Al Sahir’s musical legacy remains hugely influential. His concerts draw fans from all age groups who still long to hear his iconic romantic songs performed live.
Why Al Sahir Chooses to Keep a Low Profile
Kadim Al Sahir was once Iraq’s most famous cultural ambassador, both domestically and internationally. Why did he choose self-imposed exile and to maintain such a low profile after 2003?
There seem to be a few key reasons:
- Disillusionment with Iraq – The Iraq War and ensuing years of conflict led to widespread disorder and suffering for Iraqis. Like many Iraqis, Al Sahir grew disillusioned with the violence tearing his homeland apart.
- Fear for his safety – Years of kidnappings, sectarian conflict, and terrorist bombings made Al Sahir concerned for his own safety and that of his family. Other musicians were targeted in the post-war chaos.
- Protect his family – Al Sahir likely wished to shield his wife and children from public scrutiny by moving away from Iraq.
- Focus on his art – The singer realized he could better concentrate on his craft away from the tumult back home.
The combination of creative frustrations, homesickness, and concerns for personal security led Al Sahir to abandon his native Iraq and maintain his distance from the public eye abroad. However, his occasional concerts show his strong connection to fans endures despite years out of the limelight.
When Will Al Sahir Return to Iraq?
Kadim Al Sahir has not performed publicly in Iraq for over 15 years. Some speculate that the iconic singer-songwriter will one day end his self-imposed exile and return to his homeland. However, a true Iraqi homecoming for Al Sahir remains unlikely for now for several reasons:
- Security concerns persist – Despite Iraq declaring victory over ISIS in 2017, terrorist bombings and other attacks remain a threat, making Al Sahir wary of returning.
- Political instability – The weak Iraqi government and powerful Iran-backed militias make the country volatile, prompting Al Sahir’s continued absence.
- Career abroad – Al Sahir can still fill arenas across the Arab world, so he has less incentive to return home.
- Family settled abroad – His family is based abroad, especially in the UAE, so Al Sahir has less personal motivation to return to Iraq full-time.
Barring a major improvement in security, a return seems unlikely soon. But many Iraqis remain hopeful that one day their most treasured musical star will perform once more in his homeland. Al Sahir has commented that he does miss the Iraqi audiences that launched his storied career. Perhaps when the situation stabilizes, the longing for home will spur this secretive superstar to emerge again in Iraq.
Conclusion
Kadim Al Sahir has not performed regularly in Iraq since before the 2003 US invasion, which prompted his self-imposed exile. He now resides primarily in the UAE while avoiding the limelight. Al Sahir surfaces occasionally to give concerts across the Arab world, showing that despite his absence, his popularity remains rock solid. A return home to Iraq remains unlikely for the protective family man until security improves substantially. But even from afar, Al Sahir’s soaring ballads and romantic verses continue to resonate with millions eager to see this legendary artist back on stage in his homeland someday.
