Tunisian President Kais Saied stated that some artistic festivals in his country do not "elevate public taste," following controversy surrounding a concert by Lebanese artist Ragheb Alama, which featured behaviors from female fans on stage that sparked criticism on social media. The 62-year-old Lebanese singer performed last week at the 24th Arab Radio and Television Festival.
During the concert, which was attended by a crowd that filled the ancient Carthage Theater in the capital, some female fans from the audience joined Ragheb Alama on stage, with one dancing and singing alongside him in a manner that some described on social media as provocative.
Numerous criticisms spread online, with individuals denouncing the behavior of the fans on stage, while others felt that choosing an artist known for his romantic songs was not suitable for the festival's current theme supporting Palestine. They argued it would have been more appropriate to invite singers known for their commitment to and performances of works that advocate for Palestinians.
President Kais Saied confirmed during a meeting with Moncef Boukhtir, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the official in charge of managing the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, that cultural festivals should contribute to establishing a "national culture," noting that their organization aims to "elevate public taste."
In a statement published by the Tunisian presidency on Tuesday, he said, "The Carthage Theater and the Hammamet Theater, for example, were only open to high-quality cultural works, and many from abroad dreamed of performing on these two stages because they consider it an acknowledgment of their artistic value and even a culmination of their careers, unlike what happens today in the aforementioned festivals or in several other festivals."
Saied's remarks come ahead of the international festival season in the country, which typically features Arab and foreign artists performing for amounts that are sometimes described as "outrageous."
