The biggest Vogue event in Saudi Arabia, Hai Vogue, is almost here. The two-day celebration of all things art, culture, fashion, beauty, and music will take place on the February 8-9 in Saudi Arabia’s delightful Al Balad neighborhood. The one-of-a-kind event will encompass the coolest talents in the region, including Sudanese multidisciplinary artist Dafencii. To learn more about Hai Vogue — from where to get tickets and the line-up of the musical performances — click here.
Photo: Dafencii
5 things to know about Omar Bin Mohammed Alfadel aka Dafencii, before his performance at Hai Vogue.
He is a business student
Dafencii, born in 2001, is a young musician who managed to make a name for himself in the rap scene at a very young age thanks to his sheer talent and determination. The 22-year-old is not only a rapper, songwriter, and composer, but he is also a student majoring in business.
Rhythm and poetry (rap) inspires him the most
Growing up in Saudi Arabia, Dafencii honed his unique sound listening to several genres in several languages, from Arabic, English, and French, to Hindi, German, and more. However, when exploring rap during his teenage years, he was instantaneously drawn to its poetic beats. And the rest is history.
Covid-19 gave him time to level-up
During the 2020 pandemic, the artist utilized the lockdown to hone his craft by learning how to compose and mix music. However, he believes writing is his strongest skill, and also used the time to advance his writing chops.
His debut release amassed 906,000 views on YouTube
The multifaceted artists’ first-ever single ‘Rksha’ was received very positively, and accumulated 906,000 views on YouTube, establishing Dafencii a loyal fan base and helping him conjure a name for himself in the region. This was only the start for the artist, who soon released his breakout hit “KING Al7ALABA”, which has since garnered 20 million streams.
His first concert was in Beirut
Dafencii’s first-ever performance was in Beirut, Lebanon in 2022. He was invited to perform for the 15th anniversary of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture alongside other young talented musicians in the region. Since then, he has performed in several concerts in the region and Saudi festivals including Sound Storm, Riyadh Boulevard, and more.
Vogue Arabia is taking over Jeddah’s Al Balad for a one-of-a-kind block party at the UNESCO World Heritage Site on February 8 and 9, 2024. This two-day festival marks the first large-scale Vogue Arabia event taking place in the Kingdom, where international brands will also be invited to collaborate with local artists and artisans, creating a unique, never-before-seen experience. Buy your tickets here.
