OUM – A Son’s Quest for His Mother

Iftar Event – Oum: A Son's Quest for His Mother Organized by Dutch National Opera, Amsterdams Andalusisch Orkest & Meervaart as part of the Opera Forward Festival 2025, the Context Programme was hosted by Fouad Lakbir. The evening featured Kenza Koutchoukali and Bushra El-Turk discussing their opera Oum – A Son’s Quest for His Mother, with a special menu curated by Hummus & Habibis. At sunset, guests broke their fast with Iftar, marking the beginning of the event. First Course – Spoken word by Zeinab El Bouni Second Course – Salon Joussour with Tony Overwater (jazz bassist, composer) and Nizar Rohana (oud player, composer), offering a musical tribute to Oum Kalthoum Third Course – Spoken word by Benzokarim This special programme provided cultural and historical context leading up to the world premiere of Oum – A Son’s Quest for His Mother. Through music, spoken word, and discussions, the evening honored the legacy of Oum Kalthoum, creating an immersive experience ahead of the opera’s debut.