Lebanese singer rocks Riyadh in first female only concert
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RIYADH - Applause and shrieks of joy erupted as Lebanese singer Hiba Tawaji dazzled Riyadh in its first female-only music concert , as Saudi Arabia seeks to ease social restrictions on women .
Tawaji performed to a packed audience at the cavernous King Fahd Cultural Centre late Wednesday, the latest in a series of concerts by international artists as the austere kingdom seeks to boost entertainment options.
'I came especially from Jizan to watch this concert' said Nafees Awad, a university student from the southern province, more than 950 kilometres (590 miles) from Riyadh .
'We are so happy to watch such a concert it's the first time' in Riyadh, she added.
The concert highlights how the kingdom is easing some of its tight restrictions on women .
Under the country's guardianship system, a male family member -- normally the father, husband or brother -- must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.
