Thousands of people gathered in Hikmat Al-Masri Amphitheatre to enjoy a concert by the French band, MAP (Ministère des Affaires Populaires), which was organized by the French Cultural Centre in cooperation with An-Najah National University.

Dr. Nabil Alawi, the Director of the Public Relations Department, welcomed the band and talked about the special relationship that exists between An-Najah and Lille University.   Dr. Alawi said that it is important to organize such events because of their role in bridging the gap between French and Arabic culture.

Miss Lucienne d`Alencon, the Director of the French Cultural Centre in Nablus, introduced the band saying that its music is a mixture of lots of different inspirations from Arabic to French popular music mixed with rap music.  The band left a very good impression among the attendants who clapped very heartily after each song especially "Palestine will never surrender" which was dedicated to the Palestinian people.  At the end of the concert, Dr. Alawi and Mr. Robert Horn, the Cultural Attaché at the French Consulate in Jerusalem, honored the members of the French band and presented a University plaque to them.

MAP is a French band from Lille (northern France), including a DJ (Stanko Fat), two rappers (Dias, Hk), a violinist (Monsieur Hacène) and one accordionist (Jeoffreu Arnone). The origin of their name according to one of the singers is a little provocation to the politicians who care more about the own affairs than the people's affairs, so they decide to create their own ministry.  They define their music as simple and entertaining.