Karim Baggili: Uniting cultures through musical harmony

• Karim Bagili, a Belgian composer, guitarist, and oud player, started playing the electric guitar at the age of sixteen and has been composing ever since. At the age of twenty, he was introduced to the world of flamenco and was impressed by the mastery of playing Paco de Lucia.

Karim Baggili, the Belgian composer, author, guitarist, and oud player, said at the end of a concert he performed with his band on the stage of the Yarmouk Cultural Theater in the “Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah” on Sunday evening that he tried, through his playing, to build “a cultural bridge with the people.”

He pointed out that he personally is “a mixture of cultures. My father is Jordanian, and my mother is Serbian-Croatian, and I was born and raised in Belgium, so I have these three cultures.”

In a press statement, he added, “I like to write music that is a natural combination of all of that, and we realize that it works very well. At a certain moment, there are no boundaries when we talk about art and music, and this is also a very beautiful message.” It is a great opportunity because it also allows me to meet a lot of people around the world and to realize that music is still a common language for everyone.”

He continued, saying, “For this reason, by composing Western and Arab music at the same time, I create a bridge. Why? Because when I am here, I can speak and touch the feelings of Kuwaitis, because I speak to them through their music, their roots. And when I am in Belgium, I can express myself through my Western origins. Presenting Arabic music, so I think that’s why it’s a cultural bridge.”

In response to a question about his opinion of the Kuwaiti audience, he said, “They are still like the last time we came here five years ago. The people are very friendly and enthusiastic and seem happy to hear music. I believe that Kuwaitis are a people who love music and movement, and this was evident during the concert because they were clapping and moving in their chairs, and it was fun.”

Baghili concluded his speech by expressing his wish to return to Kuwait for the third time, saying, “because we spend wonderful times here every time.”

Building bridges between Spanish-Arabic and Western music

In a speech delivered at the beginning of the ceremony, His Excellency Christian Domes, the Belgian Ambassador to Kuwait, said: “I am honored and pleased to welcome all of you to the Yarmouk Cultural Center, where tonight we will listen to a concert by a Belgian band led by Karim Baghili. The concert is held on the occasion of Europe Month, in which Belgium proudly participates, being responsible for the current Presidency of the Council of the European Union.” He added, “We are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relations with Kuwait, so, on this special occasion, we are pleased to present to you an artist who contributes to building bridges between Spanish-Arabic and Western music.”

The ambassador continued, “Karim Bagili, a Belgian composer, guitarist, and oud player, started playing the electric guitar at the age of sixteen and has been composing ever since. At the age of twenty, he was introduced to the world of flamenco and was impressed by the mastery of playing Paco de Lucia. He taught himself and worked hard on the different techniques of the flamenco guitar. At the same time, during a trip to Jordan, he acquired an oud and added new sounds to his compositions.”

Ambassador Domes said, “His passion for music has led him to many projects as a composer or arranger, including CDs, short films, documentaries, and more recently, feature films. He has performed many concerts on beautiful stages, both small and large, in Belgium and abroad, including London, Dubai, Kuwait, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, just to name a few.” He concluded by saying, “Karim Bagili is accompanied on stage by guitarist Yuri Nanai, drummer Vivien Ladrière, and sound engineer Thierry Gillies.”

Music is a form of communication without words

H.E. Anne Koistinen, Ambassador of the European Union to Kuwait, expressed her strong belief in the power of culture, especially music, stating that “it is something that connects people.” She added, “It is a form of communication without words… You simply listen, and you can create your own images and understanding. For this reason, it is also very important here in Kuwait that we not only explore European music but also the blend of international melodies. We can see how it resonates with the Kuwaiti audience.”

The ceremony was attended by Khaled Al-Yassin, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs, along with a large crowd of citizens and ambassadors accredited to the country.