Second place for Bassma on Star Academy 6

15/06/2009

Bassma Boussail lost the Star Academy LBC season 6 title to Saudi Arabia's Abdul Aziz on Friday, disappointing Moroccan fans and prompting allegations of voter bias against Maghreb contestants.

Imane Belhaj in Casablanca contributed to this report– 15/06/09

[Getty Images] Morocco's Bassma Boussail finished second in Star Academy 6, behind Abdul Aziz Abdul Hamid of Saudi Arabia (second from right).

When the results were revealed on the final prime of Star Academy 6 on Friday (June 12th), many Maghreb viewers were disappointed to see Morocco's Bassma Boussail take second place. Bassma received just 26.5% of the vote, compared to 50.3% for Saudi contestant Abdul Aziz Abdul Hamid. Kuwait's Ibrahim Dashti and Michel Azzi of Lebanon rounded out the top four.

The final prime played short features about each of the candidates, retelling some of their journey through the academy. Supervisors said that Bassma had an enchanting voice, and that she gave outstanding performances of all kinds of music.

The feature replayed parts of Bassma's performance on Mother's Day, as well as her mother's visit to Lebanon to boost her morale. The audience was moved by clips from the prime that discussed children with cancer, in which Bassma brought many to tears with heart-melting renditions of several songs.

Boussail told reporters that she considered herself a winner despite her second-place finish, because her fans' love and encouragement were more precious.

"I am not upset at all, because Abdul Aziz has real talent," she said. "I will continue my studies and give ample time to focus on art because I have liked it since childhood and became more attached after joining the academy," Kuwait's Al Jarida quoted her as saying.

Naima Al Helwi, a fan of the show, said that Bassma deserved to win. She cited the Moroccan singer's exceptional vocal talent and superior presence, and highlighted the fact that she was never a "nominee" on the programme.

"It is perhaps unfortunate for Bassma that the final prime was held on the day of the local elections in Morocco," she said, claiming that it may have reduced the number of votes submitted from her home country.

Lobna Sarir felt that Bassma's record spoke for itself: "Why would the title go to Saudi Abdul Aziz, when he staggered in the danger zone, while Basma was not even once labelled a nominee?"

Other fans suggested there was voter bias against Maghreb contestants.

Najat told Magharebia that Star Academy fans from the Middle East are reluctant to accept the participation of Maghreb contestants, despite their strong performances.

Each season, she said, people from the Middle East or Gulf region stand the best chance of winning while Maghreb singers end up in second place, at best.

This alleged bias, however, did not prevent 23-year-old Nader Quirat, a Tunisian native from Sousse, from winning last year's title.

Fatma Ben Abd Al Nabi said that Bassma was the real winner despite the show's outcome, as the Moroccan singer proved her merit and showed humility and impeccable manners throughout her entire stay at the academy.

Bassma Boussail, born in Ouarzazate, was a hard-working medical student prior to entering the academy. According to her family, Bassma excelled despite never studying music, relying on her raw talent to move the audience with her singing. She once took part in a Tajweed contest of the Qur'an, where she placed first.

Speaking of Bassma's turn on Star Academy 6, aunt Souad Rahmouni told Al Maghribia that she "honoured Morocco and was her country's best representative".

"She is and will always be a star in our eyes and in the eyes of her fans," she concluded.