Kuwait City: Kuwaitis each year eagerly anticipate a national operetta that is the epitome of patriotic fervor, where heart-warming melodies tell a tale of passion, pride and sheer devotion to the homeland.
According to Kuwait News Agency, since Kuwait's independence, patriotic songs have been an inextricable part of a national journey towards development and growth, telling generations of Kuwaitis about the struggles of their forefathers, while simultaneously recalling watershed moments in the nation's history, from independence to the Iraqi invasion and subsequent liberation.
In the early 1970s, national operettas first came to the limelight with the emergence of poet Mohammad Al-Fayez Al-Ali, while maestro Saeed Al-Banna composed a series of operettas, chief among them a 45-minute operetta for young students, in which he extolled the virtues of the Kuwaiti people.
Another prominent national operetta was a duet by Shadi Al-Khaleej (Abdulaziz Al-Mufarrej) and Sanaa Al Kharaaz, which was a poetic narrative depicting the nation's rich maritime tradition, in addition to a tale of sacrifice and hardships experienced by Kuwaitis in the pre-independence days.
Other famed operettas include the works of the late composer Sulaiman Al-Mulla in 1981, and another one that chronicles the story of the nation, composed by Youssef Nasser and sung by a number of artists, chiefly, the late Abdulkarim Abdulqader, while a notable operetta by Anwar Abdullah, written by Yaqoub Al-Subaie, delved into the tragic scenes of the brutal Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
With the popularity of operettas in full swing, a number of Kuwaiti state bodies also produced their own works, including the ministries of education and information, in addition to the Public Authority for Youth and Sports, all of which conveyed messages of national zeal in a bid to connect with Kuwaitis from all walks of life.
In March of 2023, Kuwait's Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center played host to a national operetta that was tantamount to a history lesson, taking the audience on a trip through time with a series of eight riveting scenes that chronicle the history of Kuwait from the times of the ancient Greek civilization all the way to the present day.
A similar operetta held last year told the story of the nation through emphasizing the notions of national unity and solidarity, while as part of national celebrations this year, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sponsored and attended the "Fifth Wall" Operetta at Bayan Palace Theater.
Kuwait's national holidays remain the perfect platform to recall the major epochs in the nation's history, subsequently instilling in Kuwaitis a sense of national belonging and pride, while showcasing their aspirations and ambitions.