Ofra Haza

Ofra Haza (November 19, 1957 - February 23, 2000) was an Israeli singer, songwriter and actress, nicknamed the "Madonna of the East" for her pioneering influence in the fusion of traditional Yemeni music and world pop. Born in Tel Aviv's underprivileged Hatikva district, the ninth child of a Yemeni Jewish family, she grew up immersed in traditional Yemeni and Hebrew songs passed on by her mother. At the age of 12, she joined the local theater troupe directed by Bezalel Aloni, who became her manager. At 19, after her military service, she won a national singing competition in 1978 with "Hallelujah", launching her career. After a debut album in 1977, the following Al Ahavot Shelanu (1979) and Bo Nedaber (1981) marked the start of a series of successes in Israel, where she became a star with titles such as "Shir Hafrecha", "Tfila " and "Galbi". In 1983, she represented Israel at Eurovision with "Chai", finishing second, which opened the doors to Europe. Her album Yemenite Songs (1984), revisiting the 16th-century Yemeni poems of Rabbi Shalom Shabazi, fused traditional songs, electronic rhythms and pop, attracting international attention. In 1988, her album Shaday, including the hit "Im Nin'alu", reached the top 10 in several European countries (No. 1 in Germany and the US dance charts), propelled by her use in samples by Eric B. & Rakim ("Paid in Full") and M|A|R|R|S ("Pump Up the Volume"). This success made her a pioneer of world music, blending oriental sounds, disco and synthpop. She collaborated with artists such as Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Paula Abdul, and recorded duets with Sisters of Mercy and Thomas Dolby. In 1992, her Grammy-nominated album Kirya explored spiritual themes and African sounds, with guests including Iggy Pop. Haza also lends her voice to soundtracks, notably for The Prince of Egypt (1998), where she sings "Deliver Us" in 17 languages. As an actress, she appeared in Israeli films such as Shlagger (1979) and theatrical productions such as Les Misérables. Married to Doron Ashkenazi in 1997, she moved to Los Angeles to be closer to the American market, while remaining active in Israel. Her career, marked by 16 studio albums and world tours, was tragically interrupted by her death in 2000 at the age of 42, from AIDS-related pneumonia, although the official cause remains controversial. Haza leaves a lasting legacy, having sold over 5 million albums and influenced world music by integrating Yemenite-Jewish culture with a universal pop sound, inspiring artists such as A-WA and Achinoam Nini. His image graced an Israeli stamp in 2007, and his childhood home in Hatikva has become a place of remembrance.