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Location of Banat (dark green) in Europe (territorially-involved countries light green)

The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania (the counties of Timiş, Caraş-Severin, Arad south of the Mureş, and Mehedinţi), the western part in northeastern Serbia (the Serbian Banat, mostly included in Vojvodina, except for a small part included in Belgrade Region), and a small northern part in southeastern Hungary (Csongrád county). It is populated by Romanians, Serbs, Hungarians, Roma, Germans, Krashovans, Ukrainians, Slovaks, Czechs, Croats and other ethnicities.

The Banat is a part of the Pannonian plain bordered by the River Danube to the south, the River Tisza to the west, the River Mureş to the north, and the Southern Carpathian Mountains to the east. Its historical capital was Timişoara, now in Timiş County in Romania.

Names[link]

The term "banat" or "banate" designated a frontier province led by a military governor or ban.

The word "ban" is probably of Slavic origin, meaning lord or governor.^{[citation needed]} Others state "Ban" as translated from the Old Hungarian "King's Warden".^{[citation needed]} Thus, Banat may be translated loosely as "province" or "Royal Lands", respectively.

There were several banats in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, such as the banats of Dalmatia, Slavonia, Bosnia and Croatia; these disappeared during the course of the Ottoman wars in Europe. In the 1920s and 30's the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was divided, also, into several 'banovinas': Zeta, Drinska, Savska, Moravska, etc.

When the word is used without any other qualification, it indicates the territory of historical Banat of Temeswar, which acquired this title after the 1718 Treaty of Passarowitz, though it was never governed by a ban.

The name of the Banat is similar in different languages of the region; Romanian: Banat, Serbian: Banat or Банат (Serbian pronunciation: [bǎnaːt]), Hungarian: Bánát or Bánság, German: Banat, Ukrainian: Банат, Turkish: Banat, Slovak: Banát, Czech: Banát, Croatian: Banat, Greek: Vànaton, Βάνατον.

History[link]

Ancient times[link]

The first known inhabitants of present-day Banat were the various Thracian tribes - Agathyrsi, Getae, Dacians and Singi. In the 3rd century BC, Celtic tribes settled in this area. The region was part of Dacian kingdom under Burebista in the first century BC, but the balance of power in the area partially changed during the campaigns of Augustus. At the beginning of the 2nd century A.D. Trajan led two wars against the Dacians: the campaigns of 101-102, and 105-106. Eventually, the territory of Banat fell under Roman rule. It became an important link between Dacia province and the other parts of the Empire. Roman rule had a significant impact: castra and guard stations were established and roads and public buildings built. The public bath establishments of Ad Aquas Herculis, modern-day Băile Herculane were also established. Some of the important Roman settlements in Banat were: Arcidava (today Vărădia), Centum Putea (today Surducu Mare), Berzobis (today Berzovia), Tibiscum (today Jupa), Agnaviae (today Zăvoi), Ad Pannonios (today Teregova), Praetorium (today Mehadia), and Dierna (today Orșova).

In 273 A.D. Emperor Aurelian withdrew the Roman Army from Dacia. The area fell into the hands of foederatii such as the Sarmatians (Iazyges, Roxolani, Limigani) and later the Goths, who also took control of other parts of Dacia.

• 

  Ancient Indo-European peoples in Banat

• 

  Ancient Roman cities in Banat

Migration Period and Early Middle Ages[link]

The Goths were forced out by the Huns, who organized their ruling center in the Pannonian Basin (the Pannonian Plain), in area that included the northwestern part of today's Banat. After the death of Attila, the Hunnic empire disintegrated in days, and the previously subjected Gepids formed a new kingdom in the area, only to be defeated 100 years later by the Avars. One governing center of the Avars was formed in the region, which played an important role in the Avar-Byzantine wars. Inscription on one of the vessels from the Treasure of Sânnicolau Mare (which is presumably of Avar origin) recorded names of two local rulers, Butaul and Buyla, who bore Slavic ruling titles of župan. The Avar rule over the area lasted until the 9th century, until Charlemagne's campaigns. The Banat region became part of the First Bulgarian Empire a few decades later.

Archaeological evidence shows the Avars and Gepids lived here until the middle of the century.^{[clarification needed]} The Avar rule also triggered considerable Slavic migration to the southern Pannonian plain and to the Balkans. In 895, the Hungarians living in Etelköz entered the Byzantine-Bulgarian war as allies of Byzantium, and defeated the Bulgars. Because of this, the Bulgarians allied with the Pechenegs, who attacked the Hungarian settlements. This led to the process of what we know as the Hungarian conquest of the Pannonian basin called "hometaking" (honfoglalás) in Hungarian. This also resulted in the loss of part of the territories north of the Danube for the Bulgarian empire.

Hungarian administration (early 10th century - 16th century)[link]

Banat in 16th century map Tabula Hungariae. Note the huge geographic changes — a large lake around Zrenjanin is today dried out.

Banat was administered by the Kingdom of Hungary from the 10th century up until 1552, when the region of Temesvár was taken by the Ottoman Empire. Before the Hungarian conquest, according to Gesta Hungarorum chronicle, a local Bulgarian ruler known as Glad ruled over Banat.

The area of the Temes river was not the land of the Hungarian royal tribe, and from the middle of the 10th century - the weakening of the royal rule - the local Slavic-Bulgarian tribes began to pursue a more and more independent foreign policy. As a consequence, in the eastern part of the Pannonian basin, the Byzantine rite started to gain ground. This was halted with the establishment of the Kingdom of Hungary, and István I's country-unitive efforts, who made the last local leader, Ahtum (Ajtony in other sources) bow. Ahtum was a semi-independent ruler of Banat and an Orthodox Christian. In the 14th century, the region became a number one priority, as the southern border of the Banat was the most important defensive line against Ottoman expansion.

• 

  Duchy of Glad, 9th century

• 

  Duchy of Ahtum, 11th century

Ottoman administration (1552–1716)[link]

The Banat was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1552, and became an Ottoman eyalet (province) named the Eyalet of Temeşvar. The Banat region was mainly populated by Rascians (Serbs) in the west and Vlachs (Romanians) in the east; thus, in some historical sources it was referred to as Rascia and in others Wallachia. There was also large number of Muslims who lived mainly in the cities. In 1594, Serbs in Banat started a large uprising against Ottoman rule. The Romanians also participated in this uprising.

For a short time, in the 16th century, an administrative unit of vassal Ottoman principality of Transylvania known as the Banate of Lugos and Karansebes existed in this area.

• 

  Eyalet of Temeşvar and Banate of Lugos and Karansebes in 1568

• 

  Eyalet of Temeşvar in the middle of the 17th century

• 

  Eyalet of Temeşvar in 1699

Habsburg administration (1716–1918)[link]

In the 17th century, northern parts of the Eyalet of Temeşvar were incorporated into the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria, but Banat itself remained under Ottoman administration. In 1716, Prince Eugene of Savoy took the Banat region from the Ottomans. It received the title of the Banat of Temeswar after the Treaty of Passarowitz (1718), and remained a separate province in the Habsburg Monarchy under military administration until 1751, when Empress Maria Theresa of Austria introduced a civil administration. The Banat of Temeswar province was abolished in 1778. The southern part of the Banat region remained within the Military Frontier (Banat Krajina) until the Frontier was abolished in 1871.

During the Ottoman rule, parts of Banat had a low population density after years of warfare, and much of the area was nearly uninhabited marsh, heath and forest. Count Claudius Mercy (1666–1734), who was appointed governor of the Banat of Temeswar in 1720, took numerous measures for the regeneration of the Banat. The marshes near the Danube and Tisza rivers were cleared, roads and canals were built at great expense of labour, German artisans and farmers were attracted to colonize the district, and agriculture and trade encouraged.^[1]

Maria Theresa also took a great interest in the Banat; she colonized the region with large numbers of German peasants, encouraged the exploitation of the mineral wealth of the country, and generally developed the measures introduced by Count Mercy.^[1] German settlers arrived from Swabia, Alsace and Bavaria, as well as people from Austria. Many settlements in the eastern Banat thus were mostly German-inhabited. The ethnic Germans in the Banat region became known as the Danube Swabians, or Donauschwaben. A minority coming from French-speaking or linguistically mixed communes in Lorraine, maintained the French language for several generations, and developed a specific ethnic identity, later labelled as Banat French, Français du Banat.^[2]

In 1779, the Banat region was incorporated into the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary, and the three counties Torontal, Temes and Karasch were created. In 1848, after the May Assembly, the western Banat became part of the Serbian Vojvodina, a Serbian autonomous region within the Habsburg Monarchy. During the Revolutions of 1848–1849, the Banat was respectively held by Serbian and Hungarian troops.

After the Revolution of 1848–1849, the Banat (together with Syrmia and Bačka) was made into a separate Austrian crownland known as the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar, but, in 1860 this province was abolished and most of its territory was incorporated again into Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary.

After 1871, the former Military Frontier located in southern parts of the Banat came under civil administration and was incorporated into the Banat counties. Krassó and Szörény were united into Krassó-Szörény in 1881.

• 

  Banat of Temeswar, province of the Habsburg Monarchy in 1739

• 

  Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar (1849-1860)

• 

  Counties in Banat, Bačka and Srem after 1881, the five counties, which were formed in the territory of former Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar

After 1918[link]

In 1918, the Banat Republic was proclaimed in Timişoara in October, and the government of Hungary recognized its independence. However, it was short-lived. After just two weeks, Serbian troops invaded the region, and that was the end of the Banat Republic. From November 1918 to March 1919, western and central parts of Banat were governed by Serbian administration from Novi Sad, as part of the Banat, Bačka and Baranja province of the Kingdom of Serbia and newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (which was later renamed to Yugoslavia).

In the wake of the Declaration of Union of Transylvania with Romania on December 1, 1918 and the Declaration of Unification of Banat, Bačka and Baranja with Serbia on November 25, 1918, most of the Banat was (in 1919) divided between Romania (Krassó-Szörény completely, two-thirds of Temes, and a small part of Torontál) and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (most of Torontál, and one-third of Temes). A small area near Szeged was assigned to newly independent Hungary. These borders were confirmed by the 1919 Treaty of Versailles and the 1920 Treaty of Trianon. At the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the delegates of the Romanian and some German communities voted for union with Romania,^[3][4] the delegates of the Serbian, Bunjevac and other Slavic and non-Slavic communities (including some Germans) voted for union with Serbia^{[citation needed]}, while the Hungarian minority remained loyal to the government in Budapest. Besides these declarations, no other plebiscite was held.

The territory of the Banat is presently part of the Romanian counties Timiş, Caraş-Severin, Arad and Mehedinţi, the Serbian autonomous province of Vojvodina and Belgrade City District, and the Hungarian Csongrád County.

• 

  Banat Republic in 1918

• 

  Division of Banat in 1919-1923

Clickable map of the Banat region[link]

Josephinische Landesaufnahme. Senzitive map of the Banat region, 1769-1772. (Click on the desired quadrant)

Geography[link]

Romanian Banat[link]

Map of Romania with Romanian Banat highlighted

In 1938, the counties of Timiş-Torontal, Caraş, Severin, Arad and Hunedoara were joined to form Ţinutul Timiş, which encompassed the Romanian Banat.

On 6 September 1950, the province was replaced by the Timişoara Region (formed by the present-day counties of Timiş and Caraş-Severin).

In 1956, the southern half of the existing Arad Region was incorporated to the Timişoara Region.

In December 1960, the Timişoara Region was named the Banat Region.

On 17 February 1968, a new territorial division was made and today's Timiş, Caraş-Severin and Arad counties were formed.

Since 1998, Romania has been split into eight development regions, which act as a form of territorial autonomy divisions. The Vest development region is composed of four counties: Arad, Timiş, Hunedoara and Caraş-Severin; thus it has almost same borders as the Timiş Province (Ţinutul Timiş) of 1938. The Vest development region is also a part of the Danube-Kris-Mures-Tisza Euroregion. Ethnic minorities in the region are including Hungarians (5.6% of the population), Serbs, Croats (Krashovans), Bulgarians, Ukrainians, and others.

The Romanian Banat is mountainous in the south and southeast, while in the north, west and south-west it is flat and in some places marshy. The climate, except in the marshy parts, is generally healthy. Wheat, barley, oats, rye, maize, flax, hemp and tobacco are grown in large quantities, and the products of the vineyards are of a good quality. Game is plentiful and the rivers swarm with fish. The mineral wealth is great, including copper, tin, lead, zinc, iron and especially coal. Amongst its numerous mineral springs, the most important are those of Mehadia, with sulphurous waters, which were already known in the Roman period as the Termae Herculis (Băile Herculane). The present "Banat Region" of Romania includes some areas that are mountainous and were not part of the historical Banat or of the Pannonian plain.

Serbian Banat[link]

Proclaimed borders of Serbian Vojvodina in 1848 (including Western Banat)

Serbian Banat within Vojvodina

The Serbian Banat (Western Banat) was part of Serbian Vojvodina (1848–1849) and part of the Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar (1849–1860). After 1860, the Serbian Banat was part of Torontal and Temes counties of Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary. The center of Torontal county was Veliki Bečkerek, the current Zrenjanin.

The region was county of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes between 1918 and 1922 (in 1918–1919, county was part of the province of Banat, Bačka and Baranja) and from 1922 to 1929 it was divided between Belgrade oblast and Podunavlje oblast. In 1929, most of the region was incorporated into the Danube Banovina (Danubian Banat), a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, while the city of Pančevo was incorporated into self-governed Belgrade district.

Between 1941 and 1944, the Serbian Banat was occupied by the World War II Axis powers. Formally it was part of Serbia, but it actually was a virtually separate autonomous region ruled by its German minority. Since 1945, the Serbian Banat (together with Bačka and Syrmia), has been part of the Serbian Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, first as part of the Second and Third Yugoslavias, then as part of Serbia and Montenegro, and, since 2006, as part of an independent Serbia.

In Serbia, the Banat is mostly plains. Wheat, barley, oats, rye, maize, hemp and sunflower are grown, and mineral wealth consists of oil and natural gas. A popular tourist destination in the Banat is Deliblatska Peščara. There are also several ethnic minorities in the region, including Hungarians (10.21% of the population), Romanians, Slovaks, Bulgarians, Macedonians, Roma people, and others.

The districts of Serbia in Banat are:

• North Banat okrug (which also includes municipalities of Ada, Senta and Kanjiža, which are situated in the region of Bačka)
• Central Banat okrug
• South Banat okrug

Serbian Banat also includes the area known as Pančevački Rit, which belongs to the Belgrade municipality of Palilula.

See also: Geographical regions in Serbia

Hungarian Banat[link]

The Hungarian Banat consists of a small northern part of the region, which is part of the Csongrád County of Hungary. In addition to the Hungarian population, there's a small minority of Serbs (e.g. in Deszk, Szőreg).

Demographics[link]

The Whole Banat[link]

1660–1666:

In 1660–1666, Serbs lived in western (flat) part of the Banat, while Romanians lived in the eastern (mountainous) part.^[5]

1743–1753:

Ethnic map of Banat in 1743.

In 1743–1753, ethnic composition of Banat looked as follows:^[6]

• Three eastern districts had a Romanian population: Lugoj, Caransebeş and Orşova.
• Three western districts had a Serbian population: Veliki Bečkerek, Pančevo and Velika Kikinda.
• Six central districts had a mixed Serb-Romanian population: Timişoara, Lipova, Vršac, Nova Palanka, Ciacova and Cenad.

According to some claims, some Hungarians who survived the Ottoman period were living in the floodplains of the rivers Timiş, Begej, Aranca and Mureş.^{[citation needed]} According to other sources, Hungarians were almost totally absent from the region in the first half of the 18th century.^[7] Until 1789 no Hungarians from neighboring counties (Csongrád, Batsch, Kiskunság, Békés, etc.) were allowed to settle down in the Banat.

1774:

According to 1774 data, the population of the Banat of Temeswar numbered 375,740 people and was composed of:^[8]

Folk costumes in Banat, around 1860s

• 220,000 (58.55%) Romanians
• 100,000 (26.61%) Serbs and Greeks
• 53,000 (14.11%) Germans
• 2,400 (0.64%) Hungarians and Bulgarians
• 340 (0.09%) Jews

1900:

In 1900, the population of Banat numbered 1,431,329 people, including:^[9]

• 578,789 (40.4%) Romanians
• 362,487 (25.3%) Germans
• 251,938 (17.6%) Serbs
• 170,124 (11.9%) Hungarians

1910:

According to the 1910 census, the population of the Banat region (counties of Torontál, Temes and Krassó-Szörény) numbered 1,582,133 people, including:^[10][11][12] (*)

• 592,049 (37.42%) Romanians
• 387,545 (24.50%) Germans
• 284,329 (17.97%) Serbs
• 242,152 (15.31%) Hungarians
• a smaller numbers of other ethnic groups such as the Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, Rusyns, Ukrainians, Bulgarians, etc.

(*) Note: according to the 1910 census, the population of Romanian Banat included 52.6% Romanians, 25.6% Germans, 12.2% Hungarians and 4.9% Serbs, while population of Serbian Banat included 40.53% Serbs, 22.14% Germans, 19.18% Hungarians, 12.94% Romanians and 2.86% Slovaks. In Serbia the German population mostly fled from the region after World War II. Their flight was mainly a consequence of war time events and Axis occupation of Yugoslavia, but partly also a consequence of economic situation in post-war years. In Romania they mostly migrated after 1989 from economic reasons.

Population table:

The historical population of the Banat region in different time periods:

Romanian Banat[link]

The historical population of the Romanian Banat (the Timiş,^[13][14] and Caraş-Severin,^[15][16] counties) was as following:

Serbian Banat[link]

Symbols[link]

The traditional heraldic symbol of the Banat is a lion, which is nowadays present in both the Coat of arms of Romania and the Coat of arms of Vojvodina.

Cities[link]

The largest cities in the Banat are:

• Romania:
  • Timişoara (317,651)
  • Reşiţa (83,985)
  • Lugoj (44,571)
  • Caransebeş (28,294)
• Serbia (Vojvodina):
  • Zrenjanin (79,545)
  • Pančevo (76,110)
  • Kikinda (41,825)
  • Vršac (36,001)
• Serbia (Belgrade City District):
  • Borča (35,150)

Gallery[link]

See also[link]

• Vojvodina
• Banat Krajina
• Banat Bulgarians
• Banat Swabians
• Danube Swabians
• Treaty of Karlowitz
• Military Frontier

References[link]

• Dušan Belča, Mala istorija Vršca, Vršac, 1997.
• Milojko Brusin, Naša razgraničenja sa susedima 1919–1920, Novi Sad, 1998.
• Branislav Bukurov, Bačka, Banat i Srem, Novi Sad, 1978.
• Miodrag Milin, Vekovima zajedno (Iz istorije srpsko-rumunskih odnosa), Temišvar, 1995.
• Jovan M. Pejin, Iz prošlosti Kikinde, Kikinda, 2000.
• Milan Tutorov, Mala Raška a u Banatu, istorika Zrenjanina i Banata, Zrenjanin, 1991.
• Milan Tutorov, Banatska rapsodija, istorika Zrenjanina i Banata, Novi sad, 2001.
• Josef Wolf, Entwicklung der ethnischen Struktur des Banats 1890–1992 (Atlas Ost- und Südosteuropa / Hrsg.: Österreichisches Ost- und Südosteuropa-Institut; 2: Bevölkerung; 8 = H/R/YU 1, Ungarn/Rumänien/Jugoslawien), Berlin – Stuttgart, 2004.

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Banat

• Banat Social Networking Web Site
• banatul.com (English)/(Romanian)
• backabanat.com (Serbian)
• Development of Ethnic Structure in the Banat 1890 - 1992
• regions Banat (English)/(Romanian)/(French)/(German)
• Návštěva Svaté Heleny, reportáž z expedice Roadtrip 2007 - návštěva Banátu (Svaté Heleny) (Czech)
• Smaranda Vultur, De l’Ouest à l’Est et de l’Est à l’Ouest : les avatars identitaires des Français du Banat (French)
• Remembering Molidorf (English)/(Romanian)/(French)/(German)
• Family Books of the Banat (English)/(Romanian)/(French)/(German)
• Danube Swabian Resources (English)/(Romanian)/(German)
• Donauschwaben Villages Helping Hands Nonprofit (English)
• Danube Swabians in Banat (English)

v t e Historical regions in Romania Banat (1918–)a Dobruja (Northern Dobruja (1878–) Southern Dobruja (1913–40) Moldavia (1866–) Bessarabia (1918–40; 1941–44)b Bukovinac Hertza (1866–1940; 1941–44) Transylvania (1918–)ad Crişanae Maramureş Wallachia (1866-) Muntenia Oltenia) aDe jure since 1920 bCahul, Ismail and Bolgrad in Romania, 1866–78 cSouthern Bukovina in Romania 1918–; Northern Bukovina, 1918–40; 1941–44 dNorthern Transylvania in Hungary, 1940–44. eOnly the eastern part.

v t e Geographical regions of Serbia Bačka Banat Belica Binačko Pomoravlje Braničevo Dobrič Drenica Goljak Gora Gornje Livade Gornji Breg Gruža Has Homolje Ibarski Kolašin Jadar Jasenica Kačer Kolubara Komarani Kopaonik Kosanica Kosmaj Kosovo Kučaj Lepenica Lešnica Levač Lugomir Lužnica Mačva Malo Kosovo Metohija Mlava Moravac Negotinska Krajina Opolje Pančevački Rit Pčinja Pešter Pocerina Podgor Podlužje Podrimlje Podrinje Podunavlje Polimlje Pomoravlje Pomorišje Posavina Potisje Preševo Valley Rasina Raška Rugovo Sandžak Srem Stari Vlah Stig Svrljig Šajkaška Šopluk Sirinić Šumadija Tamnava Telečka Timočka Krajina Toplica Veliki Rit Vlasina Zaglavak Zlatibor

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Nancy Ajram نانسي عجرم
Nancy Ajram in December 2007
Background information
Birth name	Nancy Nabil Ajram
Born	(1983-05-16) May 16, 1983 (age 29)
Origin	Beirut, Lebanon, Arabia
Genres	Arabic Pop, World, pop
Occupations	singer
Years active	1998–present
Labels	EMI Arabia (1998) Megastar (2001–2005) In2Musica (2008–present)
Website	Official website

Nancy Nabil Ajram (Arabic: نانسي نبيل عجرم‎), (born May 16, 1983) is a multi-platinum recording artist and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.^[1] With the support of her father, Nancy began performing as a child and released her first studio album by the age of 15. Her breakthrough occurred with the start of her collaboration with well-known producer Jiji Lamara, when she released her smash-hit "Akhasmak Ah" and 3rd studio album, Ya Salam. In 2004, she released her second international best-seller "Ah w Noss", which spawned several smash-hits, "Ah w Noss", "Lawn Ouyounak", and "Inta Eih" at which point Nancy had established pop icon status in the Middle East.

Her 2008 album "Bitfakkar Fi Eih" spawned seven singles and won Nancy's first World Music Award as Best-selling Middle Eastern Artist, the youngest Arab WMA winner to date. She has released seven studio albums to date and numerous other chart-topping singles such as "Sehr Ouyouno", "Atabtab", "Moegaba", "Ehsas Jdeed", "El Donya Helwa", "Mashi Haddi", and "Fi Hagat".

Nancy Ajram is the first and only female sponsor and spokesperson of Coca-Cola in the Middle East and Arab world. Considered by many as an Arabic music icon of the decade, Nancy was described on the Oprah Winfrey Show as one of the most influential personalities of the Middle East. Nancy has made the list of Most Powerful Arabs on Arabian Business several times, and was similarly listed by Newsweek as one of the most influential Arabs.^[2][3] Nancy's official Facebook page is the most subscribed Arabic artist page on the social-networking site and the first to reach 3 million subscribers,^[4] and her music video for "Fi Hagat" was an Internet phenomenon and is currently the most viewed Arabic music video on the Internet, on Youtube with over 26.3 million views to date.^[5]

Early life and beginnings[link]

Nancy Ajram was born into an Orthodox Christian family on May 16, 1983 in Achrafieh, a district in Beirut, Lebanon.^[6]

In 1995, at the age of twelve, Nancy Ajram took part in a variety show, Noujoum Al-Moustakbal, ("Stars of the Future"), a Lebanese reality television competition, which finds new solo musical talent. Ajram won a gold medal in the Tarab category after singing a song by Umm Kulthum.

Ajram studied music with renowned Lebanese musicians and despite being less than 18 years old at the time, the syndicate of professional artists in Lebanon accepted her as a member. Her first singles were titled "Hobbak Allam Albi elGheere" by Abdo Mounzer, and "Oulha Kelma Ala Shani". At the age of 15, she released her first album, Mihtagalak ("I Need You') in 1998. It was followed by Sheel Oyoonak Anni ("Stop Staring") in 2000, which achieved more success.

Music career[link]

[edit] 2002-2004: Akhasmak Ah

Ajram's breakthrough was when she began working with Jiji Lamara, an experienced producer and manager. In early 2003, Ajram rose to instant fame with the success of the lead single "Akhasmak Ah" and the release of her third studio album, Ya Salam ("Oh Wow") which was a best-seller. The music video of "Akhasmak Ah" caused a controversy; reminiscent of older Arabic films, Nancy appeared as a cafe manager who dances and flirts with its customers. The release of the next music videos, "Ya Salam" and "Sehr Ouyouno" quietened down criticism as they better introduced Nancy's vocal abilities and style to the public.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] 2004-2006:Ah w Noss, Coca-Cola

Her fourth album, Ah w Noss ("Yes, and a half"), was released on April 12, 2004, and it was also an important marking point in Nancy's career. The tremendous success that "Ah w Noss" achieved, stabilized Nancy's position as an A-List star in the Arab music industry. Nancy then filmed "Lawn Ouyounak" (Color of Your Eyes), which portrayed Nancy as a bride in a traditional Lebanese wedding. After the release of the album, Nancy Ajram signed-up with Coca-Cola to be their official celebrity spokesperson for the Levant, Arabia and North Africa regions. Her first Coke commercial featured her hit, "Oul Tany Kida?" (Say That Again?), which was filmed with the international Italian director Luca Tomassini. The commercial's success lead to it being filmed as a music video behind the scenes of the commercial. The 4th hit single from the album, "Inta Eih?" (What Are You?), was a slow directed by Samir Sfeir. Nadine Labaki directed another clip that featured Nancy as a wife who sees her husband cheating on her yet she hides it in torment to save their relationship. The music video received tremendous positive reviews and Nancy was greatly praised. Leading Egyptian actors and directors, like Faten Hamama praised Nancy's acting abilities and movie offers doubled for Nancy. Nancy also opened for Enrique Iglesias's first concert in Egypt in 2004.

[edit] 2006-2008:Ya Tabtab Wa Dalla, Shakhbat, El Donya Helwa

Her fifth album, Ya Tabtab Wa Dallaa was released on February 15, 2006. Atabtab was considered Nancy's best album to date, with six music videos released, eight radio hits, and five songs used for commercials.

The title song's video was Nancy's last video directed by Nadine Labaki, as she then started working on her movie Caramel. Nancy then released the video of her Coca-Cola hit "Moegaba" (Admirer), as well as a video and commercial for her newly signed Damas Jewelry contract advertising their "Farfasha" set. The song used was Ana Yalli which was promoted before the album's release. Nancy then cooperated for the first time with prominent Lebanese director Said el Marouk, filming "Ehsas Jdeed" (A New Feeling) which is widely considered to be the most successful song of the album. The video, which was a salute from Said to his deaf and mute parents, depicted the story of a rich woman who falls in love with a deaf and mute man. Later in 2007, Nancy released all together the video of "Elli Kan" (All That Was) for Damas's second campaign, her Coca-Cola Side of Life commercial featuring a new single "El Donya Helwa" (Life is Beautiful), and a video and album directed towards children, titled Shakhbat Shakhabit (Scribbled Scribbles). "El Donya Helwa", Nancy's 7th commercial, is considered one of her most successful commercials representing her style and Coca-Cola's with colors, happiness, and music, and it led her to release a Live album featuring the single.

Ajram's sixth album was fully dedicated to children with a variety of songs aimed towards teaching children good values and morals, something she has wanted to do for a long time. The music video was her second cooperation with Said El Marouk and featured four songs from her album, the most successful of which were "Shakhbat Shakhabit" & "Shater Shater". Nancy performed these songs at several fund-raising events for children and other children's events, such as the children's TV channel MBC3, and the children's entertainment TV Show "Star Zghar". She then filmed with Fadi Haddad, the director of photography of her previous works with ElMarouk, a video for the song "Resala Ilal Aalam" (A Message to the World) which talks about world peace. The video was released on May 25, 2008, the day the Lebanese president General Michel Suleiman was elected ending a deadlock that lasted since November. It was the first video for Nancy that had an entirely graphical world that implied the suffering of children worldwide and the need to bring out a more colorful and happy world for them. Old rumors claimed that the video was presented to the UNICEF. In 2007, Nancy performed alongside Lionel Richie in Egypt at a launching event.

[edit] 2008–2010: Betfakkar Fi Eih, WMA, Oprah, UNICEF & motherhood

In February and March 2008, Nancy released three Coca-Cola commercials that featured a brand new hit from her long awaited album. The song, "Meen Gheyri Ana (Noss elKawn)" (Who Else?) was made by the successful Yey and Ana Yalli trio (Nizar Francis, Samir Sfeir, and Tarek Madkour). The single was an instant hit and served as a highly successful promotion 5 months before the release of the album. Nancy released her seventh studio album after several delays on July 30, 2008, which has been highly anticipated by fans for almost three years. This long awaited comeback album held lots of surprises for her fans with a huge change in her style that presented her matured vocal abilities like never before. Nancy's 7th album, Betfakkar Fi Eih?!, is considered to be one of her most successful albums so far as it won her first World Music Award in her career. The album included her first "Tarab" song called "Biteegy Sirtak" since 1998's Mihtagalak album, and in general had a wide mix of several different styles ranging from dance, beat, pop, to drama, romance, Tarab and oldies. Even though the hit video had mixed opinions, the second video of "Min Dally Nseek" was much more accepted, peaking at #1 for seven consecutive weeks in Melody Hits.^[7] The same musical trio who created "Ehsas Jdeed" did one of the instant radio-hits of the album, "Lamset Eed" (Touch of a Hand), which was filmed with Leila Kenaan with a high budget, and the song and music video peaked charts for months. With this album Nancy signed a celebrity endorsement deal with Sony Ericsson, as a special w595 phone was released holding Nancy's signature, and Wana Ben Idek was chosen as the commercial song.

On November 9, 2008, about a month after her marriage, Nancy Ajram won her first World Music Award for her best-selling album Betfakkar Fi Eih. In her short speech, Nancy thanked her parents, Jiji Lamara, her fans and album makers, and husband, saying "2008 has been a fantastic year - a successful album, my wedding, and now a World Music Award, what can I ask for more?"

On September 28, 2009, the Oprah Winfrey Show aired an episode titled "Fame Around the World" that talked about the most famous celebrities around the globe in brief reports. Representing the Middle East region and Arab world, Nancy Ajram appeared in a report featured on the show and was described by Oprah as "the Britney Spears of the Middle East". Nancy Ajram is the first and only Middle-Eastern artist ever mentioned on the show.

[edit] 2010–2011: World Cup, N°7

In the summer of 2010, Nancy was nominated by Coca-Cola Middle East to sing, along with K'naan, his international hit and song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, "Wavin' Flag". The Arabic version, titled "Shaggaa Be Alamak" and directed to the Middle East region, had its Arabic parts written by Ayman Bahgat Amar (who previously wrote Ah w Noss, Atabtab, Eftah Albak for Nancy) and the music remastered by Tarek Madkour. The original music video was used for K'naan's parts while Nancy's parts were filmed separately in Lebanon on the same protocol under Leila Kenaan's co-direction. Both the video and song were aired heavily during the FIFA season and part of the song was particularly played during commercial breaks on Al-Jazeera channel, which exclusively aired the games to the Arab world.

On August 30, 2010,^[8] Nancy's official Facebook page posted a 16-second preview of the music video for Nancy's next single, "Fi Hagat". The preview shows Nancy wearing her makeup and getting in the car on a rainy day. Later, it was announced that Nadine Labaki directed the video, thus making her comeback to music video direction after her 4-year break. The video is also the first collaboration between Ajram and Labaki since 2006's "Atabtab." The full music video premiered on September 6, 2010 at 8:00PM on Arabica TV and MTV Lebanon.^[9] As of January 2011, Nancy became the first and most viewed Arabic music video on the Internet.^[10]

In November, 2010, Nancy's Facebook page hit one million fans, becoming the most subscribed Arabic Facebook page on the site. Nancy expressed how thankful she was and promised her followers to add news and updates to the page. Later, the page announced "Sheikh El Shabab" and "Ya Kether" as the second and third singles from 7, respectively. The video for the second single premiered on December 23, and received favorable reviews from Arabic media, however, it did not achieve the same explosive rate of Internet views as did the first single "Fi Hagat", with only 750,000 views in a month. The album marks a shift in Ajram's career and launches her to a more international image, and is, to date, her second fastest selling album. It earned Nancy her second World Music Award as the middle east's best selling album.

2010–2012: Second kids' album[link]

In 2012, Ajram joined social networking website Twitter, and received ten thousand followers in two days. She immediately followed fellow singer Elissa and was followed back by her. The singer took her personal account to announce the video shoot of a fourth video from her seventh album, titled "Min Ma Ando." She also announced in late February that was nearly done working on a second album dedicated for kids. Ajram is set to embark a US tour in the summer of 2012.

Personal life[link]

In September 2008, Nancy wed Dr. Fadi El Hachem in Cyprus after a three-year relationship; the wedding ceremony, in Lebanon, was attended mainly by close friends and family and was only made based on their request. Nancy continued her work during pregnancy, during which she filmed "Min Dally Nseek", "Lamset Eed" and her first Sony Ericsson commercial. She also participated in several concerts, such as Layali Febrayer and received her World Music Award.

On May 16, 2009, Nancy gave birth to her first child, a daughter she named "Mila." Short for Milagrosa (miraculous in Spanish), Mila is also a traditional, Levantine name popular in rural Lebanon and meaning a "blooming tree".^[11] However, Nancy revealed that the name was Fadi's choice inspired by the Ukraine-born US actress, Milla Jovovich. Nancy released a song for her daughter, "Ya Rab Tekbar Mila" (I Pray that Mila Grows Up) on the same day. In a survey done by Rotana Magazine, Nancy was voted as the "Most Beautiful Mom" of 2009.^[12] Nancy chose not to reveal photos of her daughter Mila until they both appeared on the cover of "Prestige" magazine in an exclusive photoshoot. Mila later appeared in the set of Nancy's music video "Ya Kether" in the presence of the media who publicized her pictures.

In October 2010, a month after the release of her seventh studio album, Nancy announced that she was four months pregnant with her second child, a girl. During that period she had filmed "Sheikh El Shabab" and "Ya Kether" consecutively to be released during her pregnancy period. Nancy Ajram revealed on Mothers day special on MTV that she decided to name her daughter Ella. Ella was born on 23 April 2011.

Nancy Ajram is an Orthodox Christian.^[13]

Awards and titles[link]

• 1995 Nojoom Al Mustaqbal Golden Award - (Ajram's most significant pre-stardom award)
• 2003, 2005, 2007 Murex D'or Award - Best Female Lebanese Singer of the year, Beirut ^[14]
• 2003, 2006 Murex D'or Award - Best Video of the Year, Beirut.
• 2003: Ya Salam - Nadine Labaki, 2006: Ehsas Jdeed - Said elMarouk)
• 2003 The Golden Lion Award, Egypt
• 2003, 2007 LG Music Award
• 2003, 2005 Zahrat elKhaleej Magazine - Best Female Arab Singer, Dubai
• 2004, 2010 Zahrat elKhaleej - Best Music Video of the Year, Dubai (Lawn Ouyounak, Fi hagat - respectively)
• 2004 Arabian Music Awards - Best Female Arab Singer of the year, Dubai
• 2005 Newsweek - Most Influential Arab Personalities, Kuwait
• 2005 - Honor from the Opera House of Egypt
• 2007 - Certificate from the Pope of Rome
• 2007 Middle East Music Awards (Mobinil) - Best Female Arab Singer of the year, Cairo ^[15]
• 2007, 2009^[16] Arabian Business - World's Most Influential Arabs, Most Influential Contemporary Female Singer in 2007,^[17] Most Powerful Arab Singers^[3]
• 2007 Kol elArab Survey - Best Arabic Star of the year 2007 ^[18]
• 2008 9th Annual Doha Festival - Honor Award, Doha
• 2008 World Music Award - World's Best-Selling Middle-Eastern Artist, 20th Annual WMA, Monaco ^[19]
• 2008 Student Choice Award - [College Student Survey]: Best Album of the Year 2008, Beirut ^[20]
• 2008 AlJumhuriya newspaper, Freedom Magazine - Best Female Arab Star of 2008, Egypt.. only? ^[21]
• 2009 Regional Ambassador for the UNICEF in the Middle East & North Africa
• 2009 Al-Jazirah Newspaper survey : Best Female Arab singer of the Year. Saudi Arabia
• 2010 Stars Cafe Magazine - Best selling female artist of the decade.
• 2010 World Travel Award - Best Female world singer of the Year .
• 2010 Sama Al Noujoum-Best Female Singer 2010/Fi hagat Best Music Video^[22]
• 2010 Panet Survey-Best Female singer^[23]
• 2010 Arab Sound Awards -Best Arabic Female Singer^[24]
• 2010 Music My Life- Fi Hagat Best Song Of 2010
• 2010 Best Of Lbc 2010- N 7 Best Album/Fi Hagat- Best Music Video^[25]
• 2010 Panorama Fm (MBC)-N 7 Best Arabic Album.^[26]
• 2010-2011 Jaras Scoop Awards-Best Female Singer ^[27]
• 2010-2011 Melody Fm Awards-Best Female Singer
• Stars Cafe Awards 2010:
  • Best Female Artist
  • Best Album : 7
  • Best Song: Fi Hagat
  • Best Lyrics: Fi Hagat
  • Best Arrangement: Fi Hagat
  • Best Music Video: Sheikh El Shabab
• 2011 Won two awards from "Murex D'or 2010" ceremony in Lebanon. First award as the Star of Lebanese song, and the second award for the category of best music video for the song "Sheikh El Shabab."^[28]
• 2011 Best Female Singer- "Woujouh Men Lebnan" awards.
• 2011 Arabian Business- Most Famous Celebrity in the Middle East ^[29]
• 2011 World Music Awards World's Best-Selling Middle-Eastern Artist (Nancy 7)

Philanthropy and humanitarian work[link]

Ajram has participated in numerous charity events and concerts that she considers a priority in her music career. In the year 2006, Ajram opened an organization under the name "Jam'iyet Nancy Ajram Al-Khayria" (Nancy Ajram's Charity Organization) in Beirut, Lebanon, that works on collecting and distributing money for the poor. Nancy also released a song about peace, "Resala Ilal Aalam" (A Message to the World), in her children's album as a music video, which was rumored to be presented to the Unicef. Ajram also participated amongst over 100 other prominent Arab artists in a huge production called "ElDhameer elArabi", a 10-year sequel to "AlHelm Al Arabi" that outlines the major political events in the Arab world in the past ten years.

In June 2008, Nancy participated in The Big Ball, a charity event in Dubai which raised over Dhs 940,000 for helping underprivileged children ^[30] by auctioning one of her favourite dresses and encouraging children's fund-raising events; she announced, "The Big Ball is doing a wonderful thing and I'm happy to support it. I'm coming for my love of children and because I want to help underprivileged children find a happy place in this world. Children inspired my latest album Shakhbat Shakhabit and especially the song "Resala lel3alam" (A Message to the World)." ^[31] Ajram, however, continues to refuse announcing her other charitable projects to the public.

On October 22, 2009, the UNICEF chose Ajram to be the first female regional ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa, as was announced in a press conference held in Beirut. Nancy announced that she will be starting her charity projects in 2010. In late 2009 she appeared in the UNICEF's commercial marking the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, joining other influential Middle Eastern celebrities such as Kazem el-Saher, Saber el-Rebai and Karess Bashar.

Criticism and controversy[link]

• Many rumors of boycotts against Ajram's concerts filled the internet, although none appeared to be true.^[32]

• In October 2003, a riot broke out outside a concert by Ajram in Bahrain. Islamists from the country's main opposition parties, including Al Wefaq, attacked concert goers. Al Wefaq's leaders defended the action, as it was the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.^[32] In May 2006, Ajram returned to perform in Bahrain without any incidents.

• On her official website, Nancy Ajram has apologized^[33][34] for anti-Iranian remarks ^[35] falsely attributed to her on a website posing as her homepage.

• Nancy Ajram has expressed extreme anger towards recent circulating rumors in Egypt regarding the spread of nude photos of her on mobile phones. A large number of youths around Egypt and around the Arab world have been spreading nude photos of the singer supposedly taken at a women's spa for a full body wax. Nancy, however, denies the spa visit and claims such photos are fake.^[36]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Nancy Ajram Discography

• 1998: Mihtagalak
• 2001: Sheel Oyounak Anni
• 2003: Ya Salam
• 2004: Ah W Noss
• 2006: Ya Tabtab...Wa Dallaa
• 2008: Betfakkar Fi Eih?!
• 2010: 7

Children's albums[link]

• 2007: Shakhbat Shakhabit
• 2012: TBA

DVDs and live albums[link]

• 2004: Live at the Jarash Festival [DVD] - MegaStar
• 2005: Ma La Ta'arifunahu 3an Nancy Ajram [DVD] - MBC
• 2006: Ah w Noss: Collector's Edition [CD and DVD] - MegaStar
• 2006: Ya Salam: Collector's Edition [CD and DVD] - MegaStar
• 2007: Shakhbat Shakhabit [DVD]
• 2007: ElDonya Helwa - Live [Live CD]
• 2008: The Best of Nancy Clips [DVD]
• 2008: Greatest Hits [Compilation CD] - EMI
• 2009: Awwel Marra [Old Live Songs CD] - Artline Music

Non-album singles[link]

Nancy released several songs dedicated to special countries in the Arab world, starting with "Kuwait alShahama" in 2005. In early 2006, she released a single, "Ana Masry" ("I am Egyptian"), timed to coincide with Egypt's hosting and winning of the African Cup of Nations football tournament, taking it by storm. Its video showed Egyptians representing the diversity of the country lip-sync the patriotic lyrics of the song. Nancy also released a song for the rival Egyptian soccer teams "Ahly and Zamalek", being the first to do so after Sabah. Nancy released a sensual song for Lebanon called "Habib elOmr" composed by Ziad Boutrous, which preceded the 2006 Lebanese war. After the 2007 "Nahr el Bared" war, Nancy dedicated a song composed by Samir Sfeir to the Lebanese Army, called "Khalleek Bwejj elGhadab".

• 2005 "Kuwait Al Shahama"
• 2005 "Ana Masry"
• 2005 "Agbal" - (released in "Afdal Ma Endana" UAE compilation album)
• 2006 "Ahli w Zamalek"
• 2006 "Habib el Omr"
• 2007 "Bwejj el Ghadab"
• 2007 "El Dunya Helwa" [Coke Single] - (featured in Live performances album)
• 2009 "Ya Rab Tikbar Mila"
• 2009 "Efta7 Albak Tefra7" [Coke Single] - (released on Coke official website)
• 2010 "Masr el Ma7rousa"
• 2010 "Salemoli 3alaih"
• 2011 "Wahshani Ya Masr Moot"
• 2011 "7adri La3bek"
• 2011 "papa Porto"

Group works

• 2003 Il7a2ni (Follow Me) for the Lebanese Marathon, featuring Haifa Wehbe, Dina Hayek, Joe Ashkar, and Yuri Mrakadi.
• 2005 La Ma Khelset El Hekaya (It's Not Over) after the assassination of late president Rafiq elHariri, featuring Nawal elZoghbi, Haifa Wehbe, Wael Kfoury, Sabah, Maya Nasri, and many others.
• 2008 ElDhameer el 3arabi (The Arab Conscience) the sequel to the well-known "elHelm al3arabi" along with more than 100 artists including Wadih elSafi, Assala, Latifa, and Cheb Khaled.

Soundtracks

Ramadan 2009: Ibn elArandaly

• Intro: "Ya Ibn el Arandaly"
• Outro: "Kol elHekaya"

Ramadan 2011: "Samara"

• intro: "Samara"
• outro: "Samara"

Global Coke slogans[link]

Coca-Cola Middle East have always incorporated International Coke slogans into pan-Arab campaigns with Nancy. In 2007, Coca-Cola released their international trademark campaign of their popular slogan "The Coke Side of Life", which focused on themes such as fun, happiness, colors, and life. A collaboration with Nancy Ajram lead to the making of the song "El Donya Helwa" (The World is Beautiful) for which a commercial was filmed with an American director on international standards and hi-tech effects. Nancy insisted on filming in Lebanon which had been hit by war a while back. "El Donya Helwa" is considered Coca-Cola Middle East's and Nancy Ajram's most successful commercial to date; the single became one of Ajram's most successful songs, leading to its release as a single track in a "Live" album with live performances from her last studio album Atabtab.

In 2009, as the campaign was sequeled internationally with "Open Happiness", Coke Middle East and Nancy released "Eftah Albak Tefrah". However, due to Nancy's pregnancy and giving birth, she was unable to participate in the print or TV campaigns that year and the song was used on the International commercial instead. A website was launched for that campaign entitled "Eftah Tefrah".

In 2010, Coca Cola released an Arabic version of Wavin' Flag originally by K'naan. The Arabic version "Wavin' Flag / Shagga' Bi Alamak Da" (In Arabic شجّع بعلمك ده) has Nancy Ajram featuring K'naan and meant for pan-Arab promotion of 2010 FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa.

Videography[link]

Commercials and Official music videos[link]

Ajram's success as a singer led to high-profile advertising deals with Coca-Cola and Sony Ericsson and Damas Jewelry. Nancy remained the only Arab star promoting Coke until late 2007 when Egyptian sensations Mohammed Hamaki and Tamer Hosni joined in as well, as she still remains the only female. Coca-Cola and Nancy formed a great team since five years making commercials and music videos that stood out in the Arab world, synchronising local campaigns with worldwide slogans.

Middle East Coke Campaigns

DAMAS's youth-inspired set called "Farfasha", which are gold collections from the World Gold Council said to be chosen by Nancy herself, was promoted by her in three different campaigns. Each campaign had a new collection for the set and a song, commercial, and music video, starting with "Ana Yalli", then "Elli Kan" from Atabtab, and last with "Ibn elGiran" from Betfakkar fi eih?!.

A survey by Sony Ericsson where Nancy was named the most popular Arab star led them into signing a deal with her as their celebrity spokesperson. The company co-sponsored the release of her best-selling album Bitfakkar Fi Eih. In Febrauary 2009 the W595i phone was officially released with a Nancy special edition kit that held her signature on the back of the phone, a free copy of her album and ringtones of her songs. This was accompanied by print advertising, a press conference in Dubai, as well as a commercial set in March 2009 that featured Nancy and the song "Wana Ben Idek" from her best-selling album Bitfakkar Fi Eih.

References[link]