Nibal Abd el Karim

Nibal Abd el Karim grew up in a Palestinian family in Nazareth, Israel. She fondly remembers many evenings spent with her siblings and parents singing and dancing together. Both she and her sister became professional singers in their late teens, and sang at local festivals. Nibal also sang at college events – she attended the Arab American University in Jenin, a private Palestinian university, and people took pride in her singing as it was a symbol of their common suffering and desire for peace.

Nibal met her Syrian-born husband at college. Since Syria and Israel have no diplomatic relations they settled in Jordan to start a family. But because she is a citizen of Israel the Jordanian government offered her and two infant children no legal status so they moved to the United States seeking asylum in 2009. In 2010 she gave birth to their third child.

Nibal’s first public performance in the U.S. was at an Erie Art Museum function in March 2009 and then at a World Refugee Day celebration. She has also sung at Asbury Woods Nature Center, and given workshops and performances at local daycares, nursing homes, and Behrend and Mercyhurst colleges. Her voice is supple, lush and haunting, and can glide through Middle Eastern ornamentation with ease. She is highly influenced by the legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.

Nibal believes that music is a passport that allows one access into people’s homes and hearts. She believes that the obstacles of language and religion can be overcome when people have the desire to understand one another. “I believe that every person has a message, something to give,” she says. She knows that her particular message is one of peace. “Maybe you think I am the enemy, but when I sing to you, you can’t hate me…Let me live this day at least,” she says, “and be happy and make you happy.”

Contact Museum Folk Art Coordinator, Kelly Armor for more information.