Artists say farewell to singer Warda

Algerian Singer Warda Cairo - Mohammed Youssef Algerian singer Warda has died at the age of 73 from a heart attack at her home. The news was confirmed by Egyptian composer Sharnoubi followed by Warda's son by telephone to Arabstoday. Egyptian artists flocked to say their  farewells to the great singer following the announcement of her death, on Thursday evening, at her Cairo home in el-Manial. Many Egyptian artists expressed their grief, considering her one of the best Arab voices and a symbol of the "beautiful heritage time". Arabstoday visited Warda's home on the Nile once her death was confirmed and met a number of artists who were paying their respects. Egyptian actress, Nabila Ebeid, one of Warda's closest friends in Cairo's artistic community, was amongst the first to arrive. Fellow actress Yousra together with Soheir el-Beblawi, Fifi Abdo and her daughter Aza also came to mourn the loss of the singer, according to Warda's housekeeper. Producer Mohsen Gaber, musician Hani Mehanna, music composer, Salah el-Sharnoubi, TV presenter, Wagdi al-Hakeem, make-up artist, Mohammed Ashoub and his son and young singer Ghada Ragab in addition to the Algerian ambassador in Egypt also came to the Nile-side house, TV presenter, Wagdi al-Hakeem said "we have lost a great symbol of the beautiful time. We loved her voice and she was in our hearts. Warda represented the beautiful heritage." Hakeem said he was shaken to hear of her death as he had called her at 5.00 pm  to set a date to record a new song as "a gift for the January 25 revolution" which was to be launched following the election of  Egypt's new president, to celebrate  restored stability in Egypt. The song was written by Awad Badawi and composed by Walid Saad. Wagdi was told by Warda's sister that she couldn't come to the phone as she was asleep. A doctor later announced that she had died of a heart attack. Salah el-Sharnoubi in a tribute to the singer said: "she left a great legacy and heritage. I was lucky to share her work in the nineties and we have been friends since then." He received the news at 9.00 pm but thought it was a merely a rumour as her death has falsely been annouced before. Sharnoubi then said a prayer: "May Allah have mercy on her and may her soul rest in peace" Musician Hani Mehanna expressed his own grief and shock: "We  have lost one of the most important singers in the Arab world. She had a great sensibility and was one of a kind." He gave thanks that she died in her sleep in the comfort of her home. The funeral will be held after Friday prayer in Salah al-Din mosque in el-Manial, Cairo after which she will be taken to her final resting place in Algeria. Producer Mohsen, in his tribute said: "We as artists should produce a work in her honour as befits her status in the world of art." Meanwhile, the young singer, Ghada Ragab, said she had rushed to Warda's house to say farewell but the Algerian embassy were preventing mourners from doing so. Ghada recalled fondly that Warda would send bouquets of flowers whenever Ghada presented a new song which delighted her. Algerian singer, Warda, was born in France in 1939, from an Algerian father and a Lebanese mother. Rumours of her death from a heart attack had been spread in recent days over social networking sites, which were denied by her family.