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DYNAMIC drummer Mustafa 'Tufa' El Hajj is the winner of Talent Trail 2010 after his live traditional sounds won over the hearts of GulfWeekly readers and Bahrain TV viewers in the nation's first multi-media interactive competition of its kind.
Although a panel of seasoned judges - namely editor Stan Szecowka and singers Lisa Morgan and Christine Gordon - offered their opinion during a 'final night' broadcast it was down to YOU to decide on the winner.
More than 2,200 votes were cast with Mustafa, who lives in Jannusan, receiving more than twice the number of those registered to the joint-runners-up visiting www.gulfweekly.com
"Wow! I'm speechless!" said the 14-year-old St Christopher's School pupil when he first heard the news of his success.
Tufa, as he is endearingly called by family and friends, enthralled viewers and website visitors with the sounds from his Arabic tabla, or traditional drums.
His amazing playing prowess has wowed music lovers on many occasions and for two years in a row he has been judged as the 'best percusionist' in the prestigious Young Musicians of the Gulf contest.
The Talent Trail 2010 trophy now sits proudly on the family mantelpiece alongside his other prizes. "I would like to thank all my friends and teachers for their support and my little sister Zainab who rallied all her friends to watch the programme, visit the website and vote!"
Tufa was born in England to Lebanese parents, Ali El Hajj, 49, McDonald's fast food general manager, and Manar, 42, a housewife. Zainab, 12, said: "We're really proud of him!"
Tufa says his passion for drumming is the result of his father's love for football and he caught the beat bug watching his dad play on the tabla while supporting his favourite team on the terraces.
"My mother also tells me that as a child I used to strum on just about any surface I found," he added.
Tufa will be putting on a victory performance tonight on Bahrain TV, the English language station-of-the-nation during presenter Krazy Kevin's Music Mania chart show.
Catch the show at 8pm. It will be repeated on Friday and Sunday at 9pm.
In second place singer/guitarist Daryl Egan, singer Elizabeth Wahba and song writing mum Rupa Bhargava recorded exactly the same number of votes and in third place came singer 'MJ' Mohammed Jalal.
