The singer Daklon is the winner of the National Arts (Omanut La\'Am) Prize for the year 5761, for \"his important contribution to Israel\'s multi-cultural richness and on his work perpetuating the authentic music of Yemenite Jewry.\" Arutz-7\'s Haggai Segal congratulated him this afternoon, and asked him if his goal, when he became a musician, was in fact to \"perpetuate the music of Yemenite Jewry?\" \"Aaah, what do I know? I just happened to be there, that\'s all; I was born at this time, and it fell into my lot, thank G-d.\" He said that among his hits of which he is most proud are Shabchi Yerushalayim, composed by Avihu Medina and originally recorded in 1984, and Mori HaZaken, and others.
Segal noted, \"Yesterday, you appeared in Beit El at a festive end-of-vacation fair [which began with a ritual fourth-year redemption ceremony of the fruits of a local vineyard, and also included the selling of locally-made wares such as pottery and more]. Three notable musicians turned down the opportunity to appear there, because they were afraid to come to Judea and Samaria. You, on the other hand, not only came, but also canceled an appearance somewhere else in order to do so. Weren\'t you scared?\"
\"Why should I be?\" Daklon responded. \"Two days before that I was in Gush Katif, and a few weeks before that I appeared in Hevron. I think that during this period, we have to be willing to answer the call and fulfill our mission of making the people of Israel happy. I was happy to come... Music is something spiritual, and the people were happy with all different types: Songs of the Land of Israel, traditional songs, Yemenite songs - everything.\"
Segal noted, \"Yesterday, you appeared in Beit El at a festive end-of-vacation fair [which began with a ritual fourth-year redemption ceremony of the fruits of a local vineyard, and also included the selling of locally-made wares such as pottery and more]. Three notable musicians turned down the opportunity to appear there, because they were afraid to come to Judea and Samaria. You, on the other hand, not only came, but also canceled an appearance somewhere else in order to do so. Weren\'t you scared?\"
\"Why should I be?\" Daklon responded. \"Two days before that I was in Gush Katif, and a few weeks before that I appeared in Hevron. I think that during this period, we have to be willing to answer the call and fulfill our mission of making the people of Israel happy. I was happy to come... Music is something spiritual, and the people were happy with all different types: Songs of the Land of Israel, traditional songs, Yemenite songs - everything.\"