Ofra Haza was one of the most popular and influential singers in Israel and around the world. Her unique blend of traditional Yemenite music and modern pop styles earned her the nickname of “the Madonna of the East” or “the Israeli Madonna”. She had a voice that was described as “tender” and “haunting”, and a musical career that spanned over three decades. She collaborated with artists such as Paula Abdul, Iggy Pop, and Thomas Dolby, and performed at prestigious events such as the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and the Eurovision Song Contest. She also contributed to movie soundtracks, such as Dick Tracy and The Prince of Egypt, and her songs were sampled by hip hop artists like Eric B. & Rakim and M/A/R/R/S. She was a cultural icon and a source of pride for many Israelis, especially those of Mizrahi Jewish descent.
But behind her success and fame, there was a tragic and controversial story that shocked the public and the media. Ofra Haza died on February 23, 2000, at the age of 42, of AIDS. While the fact that she was HIV-positive is now generally known, the decision by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz to report it shortly after her death was met with criticism and outrage by many of her fans and family members. There were many speculations as to how and when Ofra Haza contracted the disease, and who was responsible for it. Some blamed her husband, Doron Ashkenazi, a businessman and former paratrooper, who was also HIV-positive and died of a drug overdose in 2001. Others suspected that she was infected by a blood transfusion during a miscarriage in 1997. Some even suggested that she was the victim of a conspiracy or a curse.
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The Early Life of Ofra Haza
Ofra Haza was born on November 19, 1957, in Tel Aviv, Israel, to Mizrahi Jewish parents from Yemen who had immigrated to Israel in 1949 with eight children. She was the youngest of nine siblings, and grew up in the Hatikva Quarter, a poor and working-class neighborhood in south Tel Aviv. Her parents, Yefet and Shoshana Haza, were devout and traditional, and instilled in their children a love for their Yemenite heritage and culture. Ofra’s mother, Shoshana, was a professional singer in Yemen, and taught Ofra and her sisters the songs and dances of their ancestors. Ofra showed a talent and passion for music from an early age, and joined a local theater group called the Hatikva Children’s Choir when she was 12. She soon became the lead singer of the group, and performed in various festivals and competitions. She also attended a music school, where she learned to play the piano and to read and write music.
The Rise to Stardom of Ofra Haza
Ofra Haza’s breakthrough came in 1978, when she represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Hi”, which means “alive” in Hebrew. She finished in second place, and became a national sensation. She then embarked on a solo career, and released her first album, Ahava Rishona, or First Love, in 1980. She quickly became one of the most popular and successful singers in Israel, winning numerous awards and selling millions of records. She also ventured into acting, starring in several movies and TV shows, such as Shlagger, a musical comedy, and Shadmot Devora, a drama about a Yemenite Jewish family.
In 1984, Ofra Haza decided to explore her roots and record an album of traditional Yemenite songs, called Yemenite Songs, or Shirei Teiman in Hebrew. The album was a huge hit, not only in Israel, but also internationally. It introduced Ofra Haza to a wider audience, and attracted the attention of many producers and musicians who wanted to work with her. She signed a contract with the British label Globe Style Records, and began to experiment with different genres and styles, such as synth-pop, dance, and world music. She collaborated with artists such as Thomas Dolby, who produced her album Desert Wind in 1989, and Iggy Pop, who duetted with her on the song “Daw Da Hiya” in 1992. She also performed with Paula Abdul at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, and sang a duet with Madonna at the 1994 Brit Awards.
One of Ofra Haza’s most successful and famous songs was “Im Nin’alu”, which means “if the doors are locked” in Hebrew. The song was based on a poem by a 17th century rabbi and mystic, Shalom Shabazi, and featured Ofra Haza singing in Hebrew and Arabic, accompanied by traditional instruments and electronic beats. The song was released in 1985, and became a hit in Israel and Europe. In 1987, it was remixed by the British DJ Coldcut, and reached the top of the charts in many countries, including the UK, Germany, and France. It also became a popular sample in hip hop music, used by artists such as Eric B. & Rakim, M/A/R/R/S, and Kanye West.
The Death and Legacy of Ofra Haza
Ofra Haza’s last album, Kirya, was released in 1992, and featured guest appearances by Lou Reed and Ky-Mani Marley. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album, and won several other awards. Ofra Haza continued to perform and record until the late 1990s, and contributed to several movie soundtracks, such as Dick Tracy, The Governess, and The Prince of Egypt. In 1997, she married Doron Ashkenazi, a businessman and former paratrooper, who had been her manager and partner for several years. The couple had no children, and Ofra Haza suffered a miscarriage in 1997, which required a blood transfusion.
In February 2000, Ofra Haza was admitted to Tel Aviv’s Tel Hashomer hospital, suffering from pneumonia. She was placed in intensive care, and her condition deteriorated rapidly. She died on February 23, 2000, of multiple organ failure. The cause of her death was initially kept secret, but soon it was revealed by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that she had died of AIDS. The news shocked and saddened her fans and the public, and sparked a debate and controversy over the ethics and legality of disclosing her medical condition. Many of her fans and family members accused the newspaper of violating her privacy and dignity, and demanded an apology and an investigation. Some also blamed her husband, Doron Ashkenazi, who was also HIV-positive and died of a drug overdose in 2001, for infecting her with the virus. Others speculated that she had contracted the disease from a blood transfusion during her miscarriage in 1997. Some even suggested that she was the victim of a conspiracy or a curse.
Ofra Haza’s funeral was attended by thousands of people, who mourned and celebrated her life and music. She was buried in the Yarkon Cemetery in Tel Aviv, next to her parents. Her death was a huge loss for the Israeli and the international music scene, and she was widely praised and honored for her achievements and contributions. She was posthumously awarded the Israel Prize, the highest civilian honor in Israel, in 2000, and was inducted into the International Jewish Music Hall of Fame in 2003. She was also ranked at number 186 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2023. Her songs and albums continue to be popular and influential, and have been covered and remixed by many artists, such as Sarah Brightman, Coldplay, and Gorillaz. She is remembered as one of the most talented and versatile singers of her generation, and as a pioneer and ambassador of world music.
