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50s to 90s

Boney M in Kuwait

Instagram user @mohammedaltourah has been posting photos taken from old newspapers of various events that were taking place in Kuwait back in the 70s. Among the photos was this Boney M ad above dating back to 1978. I also found the video below that according to the uploader was taken in Kuwait back in 1978. But, the video also says it was shot in UAE. Since I don’t think UAE existed back then (you know what I mean) it’s very possible that this was shot in Kuwait. [YouTube]

Check out more old newspaper clippings [Here]

36 replies on “Boney M in Kuwait”

I remember going to this show in Kuwait. I was about 14. It was absolutely fantastic. The men that were dancing in the aisles is what I remember! The buzz was so great. I went with my parents and we all loved it. I also saw Martha Reeves and the Vandella’s….they were amazing 🤩

Used to live in Abu Dhabi in the 1970s. Remember it being a cool laid back place then. The Club est 1962 should give some perspective.

Boney M was one of the most popular pop bands in the ’70’s and 80’s. Their shows were always a big party, not at least due to the good voices, the original disco sound and the strange dance moves of Bobby Farrel. Unfortunately he passed away in 2010.
Sweet memories of a great time, when I was a few years younger and visited the disco’s in an attempt to imitate his dance moves and of course those of John Travolta, who had a huge success with his Saturday Night Fever at around the same time.
Needless to say my attempts were a disaster. Though it made the fun of trying not less.

Daddy Cool remains one of my personal favorites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oTMGxMoI7o

“Since I don’t think UAE existed back then (you know what I mean)”

Thr union was formed in 1972. So you are absolutely correct.

My uncle and aunt went to the concert, I remember them telling me when Bobby Farrell came into the stage he tried to do his signature spin but the floor was too rough, so he left and came back with baby powder. It worked as far as my uncle remembers. My aunt fainted and couldn’t remember very well.

I remember that concert very well! I was at the front on one of the three performances.

People went crazy everybody was dancing! It was a day that Kuwait never forgets! WOW!

I was almost 9 back then. I was just lucky to find tickets and be admitted at that age.

And sure Boney M back then was one of the top group in the 70s.

Viva Kuwait!

What ”repressive regression”? Ne-Yo – the American rapper performed a concert for everybody at Avenues Mall in 2010 and all the Kuwaitis were dancing.

I always thought the video was filmed in Bahrain- the hub of the Persian Gulf back then.In 1980 Kuwait Hilton would run this video several times each day on its in-house TV channels.
Those were the days of our lives!

UAE was formed in 1971. so if Boney M was in the area in 1978, then my math tells me that UAE existed during that time. what is meant by “you know what I mean”. was UAE kinda “sleepy” then with kinda nothing going on?

A slight aside. As awesome as it might have been – you guys DO know that none of the members of BOney M actually evever sang? It was all lip synced and orchestrated by their white german producer who often did the male vocals. Boney M as a band were a complete fabrication.

Another piece of news I heard was that BOney M were the LAST show in Kuwait. I can’t verify this but the person I was talking to said that ‘The Kuwaiti girls were absolutely shameless and oncontrollable’ Apparently that show led to all the restrictions that are now in place!

not my opinion – just retelling what I heard

It’s correct that not all of the members of the band actually sang on the recordings. Their producer Frank Farian did the male vocals for example. You can read it all at their Wiki-page.

I’m just wondering why you’re writing rubbish about the behavior of these ladies, which you’ve apparently heard from someone, but cannot be verified?
Why do you do that? Because they were successful and people had fun at their shows?
Is that a sin?

I also know an incredible hoax, but I can proof it. I won’t do that on this blog, but it’s common knowledge that “Nurse Nayirah” almost won an Oscar for best actress in 1990.
Just Google it.

Not my opinion, just a fact.

What restrictions are in place for Kuwaiti girls? Ne-Yo the American dance rapper did a live concert in Avenues Mall in Kuwait and performed many ”love-related” songs and many Kuwaiti girls were dancing. No one, including authorities, said or did anything about it. Honey, Kuwait isn’t Saudi Arabia. Kuwait has always been one of the most liberal countries in the region.

Marcel – dude i have NO problem with ladies having a good time. If it came across as it being my opinion, I will say again that it wasnt.

But I checked with the person that told me and he said that was the opinion of the KUWAITI authorities hence all the problems we have with live music today. I don’t understand what you mean by ‘they were succesful and had fun at their shows’… It’s great they had a good time. I wish we still had that sort of thing around. No I dont think it’s a sin but clearly you seem to have some repressed issues that you prefer projecting onto other people.

Heck I wish we COULD have that sort of environment back where Kuwaiti women can just be like normal women anywhere in the world without pretending that they dont take a dump like the rest of us. Wouldn’t that be great?

Still I don’t get it. Maybe because I’m a white dude. Like Frank Farian, -for what’s it worth. Why you mentioned his race is intriguing for me, but maybe we can discuss that later in a -future- related post.

As far as my remark about the success of the ladies, I’ll be clear and humble to you; you are right.
I’ve wrongly assumed that you referred to the ladies of the band. There’s no doubt that your comment was clear on this point. My apologize.

You meant the female audience of which you said, and I quote “The Kuwaiti girls were absolutely shameless and oncontrollable”.

… shameless and oncontrollable… Wtf! Why?
Only due the physical appearance of Bobby Farrell? Maybe because I’m not as handsome as he was, but still… It’s hard for me to imagine an audience of Kuwaiti girls who literal ‘just wanna have some fun’ (Cindy Lauper).
That’s also the reason of my misunderstanding on that part of your comment, I guess.

My general objection was based on statements, of which your source is an unknown person who refers to the authorities without providing any proof whatsoever.
How credible is that? Can you draw conclusions because of a rumor? Does that make sense?

Regarding your last paragraph I can only agree with you and hope times will change for the better in this regard.
Btw. I’m:
-white
-interracial married with kids
-not religious

..so not really bothered by suppressive feelings 🙂

Many live music concerts are held in Kuwait every year, including Ne-Yo concert at Avenues Mall in 2010 and Majed al Mohandes and Nancy Ajram live concerts. There aren’t any restrictions on live music in Kuwait by the Kuwaiti authorities, the problem is with alcohol use not live music. I don’t know where you get your information from. Kuwait isn’t Saudi Arabia, hundreds of music concerts are held in Kuwait. It’s just that MOST popular Western music artists would never visit a tiny country like Kuwait to perform a concert. Kuwait is no UAE.

Many live music concerts are held in Kuwait every year, including Ne-Yo concert at Avenues Mall in 2010 and Majed al Mohandes and Nancy Ajram live concerts. There aren’t any restrictions on live music in Kuwait by the Kuwaiti authorities, the problem is with alcohol use not live music. I don’t know where you get your information from. Kuwait isn’t Saudi Arabia, hundreds of music concerts are held in Kuwait. It’s just that MOST popular Western music artists would never visit a tiny country like Kuwait to perform a concert. Kuwait is no UAE.

thanks for explaining what you meant. Since these are just comments on a blog, I guess documented proof is really not that important. I love Boney M’s music and indeed a lot of 80s stuff – but the band was just a stageshow with no real music – which is a bit of a shame.

The source in question though is a family friend who attended the concert at the time and he enjoyed it. He said all the Kuwaiti girls were going wild and dancing in the aisles. Perhaps the authorities took that to mean that they were wild and uncontrollable. beats me.

Many live music concerts are held in Kuwait every year, including Ne-Yo concert at Avenues Mall in 2010 and Majed al Mohandes and Nancy Ajram live concerts every year. There aren’t any restrictions on live music in Kuwait by the Kuwaiti authorities, the problem is with alcohol use not live music. I don’t know where you get your information from. Kuwait isn’t Saudi Arabia, hundreds of music concerts are held in Kuwait. It’s just that MOST popular Western music artists would never visit a tiny country like Kuwait to perform a concert. Kuwait is no UAE.

“Above old news paper it’s showing “BONEY M. (The Black Beauty Circus)held in the year 1978, April 8,9,and 10(sat, sun, and Monday)at Cinema Anduls.It’s Amazing music..still I use to party……

I heard that people rushed the stage to try to get the women and they ended early. Is this true?? It was always told in Q8 in the 80’s.

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