Magharebia behind the scenes at the Star Academy Maghreb finale

2007-07-06

The first season of popular Star Academy Maghreb came to a close last Friday (June 29th), in a star-studded evening filled with entertainment and suspense. Magharebia spoke with the show's contestants and producers, who talked about the gamble of Star Academy, and the show's future.

Text and photos by Jamel Arfaoui for Magharebia in Tunis – 06/07/2007

Soraya (left), Nabil Karoui (centre) and Star Academy winner Hajar talk to the press

Star Academy Maghreb, the hit television show that was the first of its kind in the region, transformed the Outik area on the outskirts of Tunis into a meeting place for people from throughout the Maghreb. Representatives of communications firms, publicists, artists, businessmen and diplomats came together to witness the finale of the first Star Academy Maghreb and to evaluate the experience now that it is complete.

The journey begun on Star Academy Maghreb's first season came to a close Friday night (June 29th), making room for the next to begin. The show chronicled 14 young people's search for stardom through 16 weeks of seclusion at the Academy. Nabil Karoui, founder of Nessma TV and sponsor of Star Academy Maghreb, spoke with Magharebia shortly before the start of the final round. Speaking of the four final contestants he said, "They are all winners in my estimation, and a promising future awaits them all." Karoui added that all 14 contestants will have an opportunity to start their careers. "We set up a series of performances during which they will travel through the Maghreb region and to France, where they will embrace their fans, who number in the thousands."

Preparations for the final round continued throughout the week, all the way through Friday evening. Nessma TV recruited more than 350 assistants, including technicians, communications staff and designers. Top stars from the Maghreb including Saber Ribai, Lutfi Bushnaq, Chebba Zahouania, Cheb Khaled and Faudel were invited to the finale. Technicians prepared a grand, "red carpet"-style entrance for these celebrity guests, to evoke the feeling of major international festivals like the Cannes Film Festival.

Algerian artist Hamdi Benani was also present. "The Academy brought together all the peoples of the Maghreb countries," he said. "It will be a historic occasion, and I hope it will not be the last. I am happy with these young people, who began sensing a dream starting to come true."

Libyan artist Abdelmajid Haqiq described the final performance as a "big wedding and glorious gathering of the people of the Maghreb." Algerian artist Nabil El Khaldi said "This is one of the best moments in my artistic life. With it we wrote lines in Maghreb history, and the millions viewing this programme are evidence that we possess art and culture."

In the moments before the final prime began, audience members and performers alike whispered rumours and predictions of the winners' names among themselves. Hamid’s sister Hakima failed to hide her tears every time she was asked her opinion on the speculations circulating the crowd. "I hope Hamid wins, but I believe Maghrebis are the winners in the end", she said.

The conversations ended with the announcement of star Faudel, who was the first to take the stage. "I am happy to be here. We must be in solidarity," he said. Khaled, or the King of Rai as he is called, said that he came to encourage all the contestants without exception.

More than 14 million viewers saw Nabil Karoui climb the stage with pride, holding a big cigar. In evaluating the show's achievements during the past few months, he announced, "We can claim that we laid a strong brick in the Maghreb structure." Laughing, he added, "In any case, we are awaiting the journalists’ verdict in this matter." He said that they are "the most capable of evaluating" because they "sit in a neutral zone".

"We want to be Maghrebis and to offer full support to all Maghreb talent. Maghrebis today have their channels to showcase their talents, and Star Academy succeeded in overcoming difficulty," said Karoui. "We did it for the sake of Maghreb youth," said Karoui's brother, Ghazi, who sat on the judging committee.

At 1 a.m. on Saturday, with Moroccan host Nabila’s announcement that voting had ended, anxiety intensified and supporters of this or that contestant left to smoke cigarettes outside the hall, which was packed with fans gathering signatures and snapping photos of their favourite stars.

Half an hour later, with halting language to add to the suspense, Nabila announced that Tunisia's Soraya was the first to be eliminated, followed by Morocco's Hamid. Hajar and Ahmed remained, face to face, experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their lives. Each of them began to point to the other as the sure winner. In the end, and with rising hubbub in the crowd, Nabila announced that Hajar was the first winner of Star Academy Maghreb, sending the hall into a state of hysteria.

Moroccan Hajar is the first winner of Star Academy Maghreb

Tears mixed with the shouts of fans and Hajar was speechless. Incapable of realising what happened, she forgot to don the crown given to her by Nabil Karoui. Her mother leapt onto the stage with the speed of a professional athlete, took it and planted it on her winning daughter’s hair.

"We were all wrong in predicting that the Tunisian would win," said Tunisian Sirine over the din of voices. "The Karoui brothers succeeded in firmly establishing their neutrality." In a soft voice, Sirine told Magharebia, "I heard many rumours tonight that the winner would be Tunisian no matter what, on the pretext that the programme is managed and financed by Tunisians. Thank God we passed the test."

The announcement of the winner did not mark the end of the gathering. Rather, everyone was awaiting another get-together for eating grilled meat and tasty Tunisian dishes. Indeed, everyone needed to replenish their strength, as making it through that summer night required much energy.

On Monday, with all fourteen contestants in attendance, Nabil Karoui announced that the Academy had achieved its goals. Pointing to the students, he said "Before you today are the best of the Maghreb's youth, who succeeded in rising to the challenge... Hajar, who won the first Star Academy Maghreb, profited greatly, as she will be able to produce a music album and benefit from a global marketing venture with all expenses paid by Karoui and Karoui." Nabil also disclosed that the Academy did not merely succeed in attracting those with artistic and singing talents, but also in preparing a group of local technicians and artists in the field of television. "This is a challenge we deserved to win."

He added that next year's group would include the entire Maghreb region, with Mauritania’s entry into the competition. "The means are available now," he said, "especially given that the two companies working in the communication field in Mauritania are Tunisian and Moroccan."