Warda

Warda Ftouki was born in Algeria in 1939 and grew up hearing traditional Algerian and Egyptian music at home. She moved to Cairo in the 1960s and joined the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, where she began recording songs that would become familiar across the Arab world.

Her voice had a particular quality that worked well on radio and television broadcasts. Songs like 'Andah Alaek (I Call You)' and 'Ahna Elli El Loum Aleyna (We Are The Ones To Blame)' became part of the everyday soundtrack for many listeners. She recorded for decades, building a catalog of material that included both romantic ballads and more traditional pieces.

Warda's personal life sometimes drew attention alongside her music. She was known for being direct in interviews and lived through several marriages that were discussed publicly. She kept recording through different phases of her life, putting out songs like 'Bawadaak (Farewell)' and 'Betwanass' that continued to find audiences.