In an unexpected move, prominent Iraqi singer Kathem El Saher broke his contract with Rotana Production Company and signed a new contract with production company Fame, owned by Egyptian tycoon Najeeb Sweiris. Kathem’s move was a complete shock, especially since he is very close to Rotana’s owner Saudi Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal.
Kathem revealed that his latest album, “Ela Talmeethuh” (To His Student), was unsuccessful due to Rotana’s negligence, explaining that they did not properly market the album. The company has focused their attention on new singers, leading a number of its valued singers to break their contracts and look elsewhere, he added.
Amidst a swarm of journalists at a press conference in Cairo, Kathem announced that he has established “Kathem El Saher…Iraqna,” a charitable organization which provides support to families of prisoners of war, widows, infirm children, and orphans in Iraq.
During the press conference Kathem singed a contract to make a commercial for the mobile company Iraqna, owned by Sweiris. Kathem’s aid organization will build a school, an orphanage, and a vocational center, and Iraqna has vowed to donate UDS 0.10 to the organization from every prepaid Iraqna card sold.
“Iraq is at a point where it needs all of the help it can get to rebuild its society, making it a safe and stable country,” Kathem explained.
The introduction of sophisticated information technology into Iraq, not present during Saddam Hussein’s former regime, inspired Kathem to team up with Iraqna.
