Arab, Gulf and Saudi cultural and artistic figures announced on Sunday the death of veteran singer Abou Bakr Salim Belfqih at the age of 78.
Belfaqih passed away at a Riyadh hospital after a long battle with illness.
Eulogy is insufficient to mourn the man who was known for his kind heart, his love for everyone and his assistance to several families and the poor. His entire life he was keen to provide help without revealing his identity.
Abou Bakr left behind a rich musical repertoire that will be carried from one generation to another. He is one of the pioneering singers in the Arab world and one of the greatest voices, also a prominent figure of Hadrami music.
Despite his long battle with illness, Abou Bakr made a surprising appearance at the massive concert in Jeddah on the occasion of the Saudi National Day, when he was also honored as a national symbol.
Born on March 17, 1939, Abou Bakr lost his father when he was only eight months old. So, his grandfather Sheikh Zain bin Hassan raised him.
His talent began appearing since his youth for having a great voice, not to mention that he was fond of arts and poetry.
He left his homeland, choosing to move and reside in Aden in the mid fifties.
Back then, Aden was undergoing a huge artistic renaissance so he enrolled in the artistic circle in which he got introduced to poets, artists and media personnel.
Abou Bakr is one of the few artists who managed to succeed in singing, composing and writing.
