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TV band staple of Kuwait's nat'l celebrations

By Amna Al-Shemmari

KUWAIT, Feb 25 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's national television band, long synonymous with patriotic zeal, are firmly entrenched in the minds of Kuwaitis for being an inextricable part of national festivities.
In a storied career that has lasted well over three decades, the band has produced a plethora of classics that have stood the test of time, thrusting Kuwaiti folklore into the limelight. Moreover, the band has also been ubiquitous abroad through a series of riveting performances in Arab and foreign ceremonies, giving the outside world a glimpse into Kuwaiti culture.
In an interview with KUNA, bandleader and composer Ghannam Al-Dikan said that the idea behind the formation of the band is to preserve Kuwaiti culture, as he reminisced that in March of 1978, Kuwaiti state TV opened registration for those wishing to join the band.
He recalled that legions of aspiring musicians scurried to sign up, where 40 band members were chosen and subsequently enrolled in a lengthy training course.
On the band's most notable works, Al-Dikan pinpointed a 1979 spectacle to celebrate the opening of Kuwait's media complex, as the fledgling band would go on to participate in numerous Arab ceremonies.
Al-Dikan also spoke of the band's eagerness to take part in events usually met with great fanfare, including national celebrations and visits of foreign heads of state to Kuwait.
He also applauded the efforts of the Ministry of Information (MoI) to keep Kuwaiti civilization intact, quipping that many of the band's famous songs still resonate in the hearts of the Kuwaiti masses. (end) as.nam