Rima Iraki opens Oslo World
Journalist and author Rima Iraki will give this year's opening speech at Oslo World, right before the iconic Egyptian artist Hakim takes the stage at Oslo Konserthus, Tuesday, October 28.
Every year, Oslo World invites an opening speaker to speak about the larger picture at the beginning of a new festival, and to offer their perspectives on the role of art and culture in society.
This fall, journalist Rima Iraki will release her debut book, "Flukten fra Palestina" (The Escape from Palestine), which is about her Palestinian family history. She has many years of experience as a program host at NRK. There, she has hosted Dagsrevyen and Urix, in addition to entertainment programs such as "Festen etter fasten." In 2020, the program won the Gullruten Award for innovation of the year. Iraki has also been nominated in the category of "programmer of the year" twice, and has been awarded the Riksmålforbundet's language prize.
Hakim is a folk hero in his homeland and known as a musical pioneer all over the world. He is an innovator who has woven new urban rhythms into a foundation of traditional melodies and Egyptian sha'bi-pop. We are incredibly happy that Rima Iraki has agreed to give the opening speech, in a year where one of the truly great stars of Egyptian and Arabic music opens Oslo World.
