Palestinian Profiles: Mohammed Assaf

When Mohammed Assaf walked into the Arab Idol audition room on a fateful day in September 2012, he could not even imagine the sudden rise to fame that he was about to undergo. The unknown, 24 year old Gazan wedding singer came to Cairo that day to show off his voice to the world. Unfortunately for him, his dream appeared to be dead before it could even come to life. Because of tight security measures, it took Mohammed two days two get from Gaza to Egypt. By the time he reached the hotel where auditions were taking place, all the numbers were already given out and Mohammed was told to come back next year. Always a resilient spirit, Mohammed jumped a wall and snuck past security into a room where the other contestants were being held. From there, he began singing to the other contestants and one man was so moved by his voice that he willingly gave up his number to all Mohammed to audition. The rest, as they say, is history. Below is a video from that first audition, where Assaf wowed the judges with his unique voice.

Early on, Assaf became a fan favorite to win the entire competition. Combing his irresistible charm with his national pride, Assaf delivered jaw-dropping performances on the daily. He sang his heart out, covering a wide variety of music from legendary Egyptian singer Abdel-Halim Hafez to the Backstreet Boys. Below is one of my personal favorites from his performances, where he delivered a heartfelt tribute to a patriotic Palestinian song called Raise Your Keffiyeh.

Arab Idol quickly became the most popular show in the Arab World and Assaf's name spread like wildfire. I was lucky enough to actually be in the Middle-East when the competition had reached it's final stage. Only three compeitiors remained: Assaf from Gaza, Farah Youseff from Syria, and Ahmad Gamal from Egypt. As I visited homes in my native Palestine, everyone seemed to have Arab Idol playing on a TV in the background, hoping for a rare-chance to celebrate in the war-torn area. I joined thousands of other Palestinians on the streets of Ramallah, optimistically watching a large TV screen broadcasting the final night of competition. As the host opened up the small white envelope and declared Assaf the newest Arab Idol, the crowd erupted. Emotion overtook the faces of everyone in that crowd, from the old man selling tea on the street corner to the little girl on her fathers shoulders waving a Palestinian flag in the night sky. Tears and laughter filled the street, a rare opportunity for celebration in a country where there is not much to celebrate. Similar scenes took over the streets of Gaza, where a young, unknown Assaf had been preforming at weddings only months earlier. For his victory, Assaf was awarded a brand new sports car and a million dollar studio contract. However what makes Assaf a true idol is not what he does on stage, but what he does off it. Despite his rise to stardom, Assaf remains true to his roots as a humble kid from Khan Yhounis, Gaza. Assaf was named an Ambassador of Peace for the United Nations and has spent a large portion of his earnings donating to charities. Assaf's story has also had significant political impact, reminding the world of all the talent hidden in Gaza and the dire need to find long lasting peace. Assaf was also able to unite Palestinian leaders with opposing political views, rallying behind Assaf to announce their support. Mohammed Assaf has become an international superstar, touring countries across the world. I was lucky enough to watch him live in Atlanta, and it quickly became evident why his voice is so loved by the Arab World. Assaf's inspiring story serves as reminder that no matter how unlikely the odds, perseverance is the most important ingredient for success.