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Saudi female poetess places 4th in UAE Millions Poet Contest
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by René | February 18, 2009 at 11:44 pm
505 views | 8 Recommendations | 6 comments
The lady poet from Saudi Arabia placed fourth in the finals held on March 27th, taking home a prize of 2 million dirhamUAE or US$544,588.
this year a record 70 million people watched Aydah al Jahani, a mother of six from Medina, become the first female poet to reach the final. She finished fourth and collected Dh2m; in third place with Dh3m was Mohammed al Tamimi.
First Published 2009-02-01, Last Updated 2009-02-02 10:55:21
I got the power
Saudi female poetess resists pressure to quit
Millions' Poet TV show paves the way for women's empowerment in the Arab world.
ABU DHABI - Recent media attention has surrounded female poetess Aydah Al Aarawi Al Jahani, who competed for the second time last week and who is the first poetess to make it this far in the Millions' poet TV show on Abu Dhabi TV.
Al Jahani has received mounting pressure from family and tribe members, in Saudi Arabia, to resign from the competition due to the fact that she is female. The poetess who has competed fiercely alongside her fellow male competitors, has succeeded in avoiding elimination from the competition thanks to the Public's votes.
This week Al Jahani made it through to round three of the competition with 59% of the audience votes stating "I am very proud to be the first female poet to make it to this stage of the competition, I am now just afraid of loosing".
Despite the pressure from family and tribe members, Al Jihani is strongly supported by her husband who attends to watch her perform in the theatre along with millions of viewers around the world who have tuned in to watch her.
The 59% of the votes can be translated into millions of SMS votes received in favour of the poetess. Al Jihani is one of three female poets to compete in the competition with Siham Al Bayan Al Adwan and Haneen Al Samarneh Al Aajarma both from Jordan being eliminated in the first round of the competition.
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Nashwa Al Ruwaini, the show's Executive Producer and also a well-known media personality in the Middle East quoted, "I am very proud of Aydah and hopes she continues in the competition and doesn't throw in the towel before her time. She is a true example to women all over the region proving that women too have their place in the arts and should endeavor to overcome the obstacles they face in life against their gender."
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Mira Teresa (not verified)
Recommendations (8)
danesller0127
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Roy C
Vancouver, Washington, United StatesAnonymous users (2)
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 05:14 on February 21st, 2009
Congratulations Aydah,
at 09:39 on March 12th, 2009
In OUR culture Modesty is valued greatly in both physical presentation, and in behavior. Yes it's quite different from your values, but thats generally how diversity works.
From where some of you sit I suppose it is easy to judge, misinterpret, and completely misrepresent the cultures of others because your own cultural traditions, values, and views are so inherently superior.
at 09:30 on June 9th, 2009
Assalam from USA; been a man originaly from Saudi Arabia but lived in USA for more than
30 yeaars, I am so proud of Mrs. Al-Juhani and winning the 4th. place, hoping most of the
Saudi women follow her path instead of TV & internet and shopping,,etc.
Dawaalamazon@hotmail.com
at 09:54 on March 12th, 2009
Never think we do not support this brave and talented woman, we do support her. Have searched diligently for any news on the outcome of this contest, and so far have found none.
If any others have more info, please add it.
at 02:57 on April 2nd, 2009
Rene, the final of Millions Poet was a week ago and Ayda made it into fourth place. I've had the chance to talk to her many times over the course of the competition and she is one of the most educated women I have ever had the honour of meeting.
She has said over and over that the niqab (it's not a burqa, a burqa is what they wear in Afghanistan and is quite different) that she wears is out of choice and tradition rather than religion and she hopes to be a representation to women all over the world that even though she is keeping in touch with her traiditions as a woman in Saudi culture, she can go on national television with 70 million viewers, most of them from Saudi Arabia, and pursue her dream.
Her family, despite what has been said, did not stop her. Once she had the support of her husband, she quickly gained that of her family and eventually her tribe and as she advanced through the competition, she gained the respect of the judges and the votes of the audience. Even the princesses of Saudi Arabia publicly endorsed her participation in the competition.
And the niqab can have slits for the eyes or it can be completey covered. Ayda's is total black, I have been centimetes away from her and could just make out her eyes peeking out. That little spot on her niqab is the mic, not an eye hole. In Arab countries, tradition defines all that they do and women do have a choice in the matter.
I have travelled extensively throughout the Arab World and have met people of all types. They range from women like Ayda who are compeltely covered to women wearing mini skirts and cut tops, it all really depends on the woman and it is ultimately their decision. Notice I say Arab women, I am not talking about the millions of Indians, Pakistanis, Afganis, Indonesians and so on who also do cover up and are considerably more religious than their Arab counterparts. Their coverings are based on religion whereas Arabs are based on tradition and can be seen to differ from country to country in the Gulf especially.
Sorry this is quite long-winded but it is a subject I have gone over and over countless times with everyone who has had something to say about Ayda throughout the entire 16 weeks of the competition. I know she might be the exception to the rule since she is very educated and actually works as a history teacher while raising her six children but she is a representation that women like her in the Arab World should not be afraid to pursue their dreams.
at 08:20 on April 16th, 2009
Dear Mira, I had been scouring the net for news of this contest and just found the articles about the contest finale.
As far as a Saudi woman's 'free choice' of choosing to wear the 'niqab', that's hard to verify when the Saudi religious police enforce it. This does not appear to be free choice to our 'Western' eyes.