During the exhibit "Fadfid, Fadi, Fadaa, Fayadan." (Photo: Al-Akhbar)
This summer, performers from around the world will take to the stages of Palestine – from Ramallah to Jerusalem – with song, dance, and visual arts in celebration of Palestine’s rich cultural heritage and ongoing struggle against occupation.
Ramallah has long been a summer destination for Palestinians. The cool evening breezes provide a breath of fresh air, even through the hottest summers.
Some years back, the city began to offer more than just fresh air and put on annual summer festivals celebrating Palestine’s historical culture and art.
This summer is no different, as the season opens with the Wein a Ramallah Festival organized by the Ramallah municipality, followed by the Popular Art Center’s International Palestine Festival, and concludes with the Jerusalem Festival from the Yabous Cultural Center (YCC) in East Jerusalem.
These festivals bring some of the biggest names in Palestinian music and art together alongside performers from the region and around the world.
Wein a Ramallah, which began on Sunday night, lasts through the evening of Friday, June 29. The festival features music and performances that reflect the “spirit of graffiti,” alongside visual arts contributions such as “The Palestine Poster Exhibition” and “Ain el-Helweh,” arranged by Amer Shomali, Amal Kaawash, and Nidal ElKhairy. Festival coordinator Sally Abu Bakr says, “the performances in the festival reflect the rebellious and revolutionary spirit of graffiti and its relationship with daily life, socially and politically.”
Every evening the festival is free and open to the public. Opening day on Sunday featured a performance of Yalou and a Palestinian dabke show in Rashid Haddadin square. There was also a performance for children in Darj al-Tira park.
Monday’s festivities included performances by Palestinian hip-hop group DAM. Wednesday, June 27, will feature the Palestinian band Al Raseef, which blends woodwinds and brass with the accordion to create a fusion between the music of the Balkans and other styles.
That same night, Palestinian singer Hoda Asfour will return to Ramallah for the first time in years to perform “Back and Forth (Jay wa Rayeh)” as part of her international tour that began in Egypt and will continue on to Jordan and Lebanon in July.
The festival continues on Thursday night with a performance in Al-Umam park by the band Hawa Dafi from the Golan Heights, followed by the Norwegian group Marta Fal.
The festival finishes with a performance by the young Palestinian musician Nai al-Barghouthi arranged by accomplished Palestinian composer Khaled Jobran.
July will be seen in with song and dance in the International Palestine Festival held annually at Ramallah’s Cultural Palace, followed by similar events in other cities, including Nazareth, Nablus, and Qalqilya.
The festivities will begin on July 4 with a performance of Rhythm of the Dance by Irish dancers followed by the Palestinian popular dance troupe El-Funoun and singer Sana Moussa on July 5.
Friday, July 6, Egyptian artist Maryam Saleh and her band will arrive in Palestine as part of a tour for the release of her new album.
She will be followed by Egyptian singer Mohammad Fuad, whose invitation drew the ire of some Palestinian youth on Facebook due to his stance during the first days of the revolution and his appearance on national television weeping for Hosni Mubarak.
The festival will finish on July 8 with the Chinese dance troupe My Dream.
The summer music festivals will conclude with the Jerusalem Festival in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bir Zeit, and Hebron organized by the Yabous Cultural Center.
The festival will last from July 11 to 18 and will include kids’ days, performances, and literature seminars.
The Jerusalem Arab Music Group will open on July 12 with a performance commemorating the 100th birthday of late Syrian-Egyptian diva Asmahan, followed by a set by the Palestinian group Sawwan on July 13.
The festival welcomes Rim Talhami on July 14, who will perform her latest work Yahmilni al-Leil. The Palestinian dance troupe Washah will grace the stage on July 15, and international acts such as French accordionist Richard Galliano and ABBA will perform on July 16 and 17 respectively.
The festival concludes with a performance by violinist Nigel Kennedy accompanied by Awtar Falasteen on July 18. There will also be a musical improvisations segment of the festival with Gul Trio.
This direction of this summer’s festivals is similar to last year, with the aim of asserting the importance of art and culture in the face of shrinking budgets.
During the past year, it was hoped that these activities would not be limited to the summer but rather extend throughout the year in order to reach larger Palestinian audiences in more cities and villages in Palestine, even those which have been occupied by Israel since 1948.
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.
Ramallah has long been a summer destination for Palestinians. The cool evening breezes provide a breath of fresh air, even through the hottest summers.
Some years back, the city began to offer more than just fresh air and put on annual summer festivals celebrating Palestine’s historical culture and art.
This summer is no different, as the season opens with the Wein a Ramallah Festival organized by the Ramallah municipality, followed by the Popular Art Center’s International Palestine Festival, and concludes with the Jerusalem Festival from the Yabous Cultural Center (YCC) in East Jerusalem.
These festivals bring some of the biggest names in Palestinian music and art together alongside performers from the region and around the world.
Wein a Ramallah, which began on Sunday night, lasts through the evening of Friday, June 29. The festival features music and performances that reflect the “spirit of graffiti,” alongside visual arts contributions such as “The Palestine Poster Exhibition” and “Ain el-Helweh,” arranged by Amer Shomali, Amal Kaawash, and Nidal ElKhairy. Festival coordinator Sally Abu Bakr says, “the performances in the festival reflect the rebellious and revolutionary spirit of graffiti and its relationship with daily life, socially and politically.”
Every evening the festival is free and open to the public. Opening day on Sunday featured a performance of Yalou and a Palestinian dabke show in Rashid Haddadin square. There was also a performance for children in Darj al-Tira park.
Monday’s festivities included performances by Palestinian hip-hop group DAM. Wednesday, June 27, will feature the Palestinian band Al Raseef, which blends woodwinds and brass with the accordion to create a fusion between the music of the Balkans and other styles.
That same night, Palestinian singer Hoda Asfour will return to Ramallah for the first time in years to perform “Back and Forth (Jay wa Rayeh)” as part of her international tour that began in Egypt and will continue on to Jordan and Lebanon in July.
The festival continues on Thursday night with a performance in Al-Umam park by the band Hawa Dafi from the Golan Heights, followed by the Norwegian group Marta Fal.
The festival finishes with a performance by the young Palestinian musician Nai al-Barghouthi arranged by accomplished Palestinian composer Khaled Jobran.
July will be seen in with song and dance in the International Palestine Festival held annually at Ramallah’s Cultural Palace, followed by similar events in other cities, including Nazareth, Nablus, and Qalqilya.
The festivities will begin on July 4 with a performance of Rhythm of the Dance by Irish dancers followed by the Palestinian popular dance troupe El-Funoun and singer Sana Moussa on July 5.
Friday, July 6, Egyptian artist Maryam Saleh and her band will arrive in Palestine as part of a tour for the release of her new album.
She will be followed by Egyptian singer Mohammad Fuad, whose invitation drew the ire of some Palestinian youth on Facebook due to his stance during the first days of the revolution and his appearance on national television weeping for Hosni Mubarak.
The festival will finish on July 8 with the Chinese dance troupe My Dream.
The summer music festivals will conclude with the Jerusalem Festival in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bir Zeit, and Hebron organized by the Yabous Cultural Center.
The festival will last from July 11 to 18 and will include kids’ days, performances, and literature seminars.
The Jerusalem Arab Music Group will open on July 12 with a performance commemorating the 100th birthday of late Syrian-Egyptian diva Asmahan, followed by a set by the Palestinian group Sawwan on July 13.
The festival welcomes Rim Talhami on July 14, who will perform her latest work Yahmilni al-Leil. The Palestinian dance troupe Washah will grace the stage on July 15, and international acts such as French accordionist Richard Galliano and ABBA will perform on July 16 and 17 respectively.
The festival concludes with a performance by violinist Nigel Kennedy accompanied by Awtar Falasteen on July 18. There will also be a musical improvisations segment of the festival with Gul Trio.
This direction of this summer’s festivals is similar to last year, with the aim of asserting the importance of art and culture in the face of shrinking budgets.
During the past year, it was hoped that these activities would not be limited to the summer but rather extend throughout the year in order to reach larger Palestinian audiences in more cities and villages in Palestine, even those which have been occupied by Israel since 1948.
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.
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