Cafe Palestine 8

Cafe Palestine Eight from Ramallah with Dr Samah Jabr
“The individual and collective impact of incarceration and torture: the Palestinian experience”

An Arabic summary of Cafe Palestine 8 is available here

Cafe Palestine Eight started with music from Ramallah and Nablus performed by ESNCM students: Reem Malki (Mezzo-Soprano, Oud Student), and Maya Abu El-Arayess (Soprano- Piano Student), accompanied on the guitar by ESNCM Music teacher George Ghattas who has known Maya and Reem since their childhood and taught them singing classes.
George Ghattas plays the Buzuk and the Guitar. He teaches music since 1997 at numerous music schools and conservatories in Palestine. He formed and led several children’s choirs and he is specialised in teaching singing and music performance to children.

Introduction to the musicians followed by the songs

The final song is called “Oh, Lovers of the Land”.

The final song is called Oh, Lovers of The Land, Arise! The song was written (music and lyrics) by Ahmad Kaabour (1955-present), Lebanese singer, songwriter, composer and actor.
This song is dedicated to I’tiraf El-Rimawi, music director of Ramallah Conservatory. He is 44 years old, and is held in administrative detention since 23 September 2019. He is married and is a father of five young children. His youngest was five days old when he was detained. He suffered 57 days of harsh interrogation and torture. His trial was postponed more than ten times! He remains in administrative detention.

Oh, Lovers of the Land, Arise!
I hear your anguish
Calling from afar
And see it encompass
Thousands of
Unfortunates

And your hands write on the walls of our city
Words adorning the walls of our city
So the songs embrace the winds
To say: you are awaiting
The morning light
Oh, lovers of the land, Arise!
Oh, lovers of the land, Arise!
Guard our songs
Construct our wishes

Your wounds flower
And fructify our bodies
And become
Songs sung at festivities
And your faces shine
Through the walls of our city
Lights that shatter
The ghosts from our city
So our songs embrace the winds
To say: you are awaiting
The morning light

Oh, lovers of the land, arise!
Oh, lovers of the land, arise!
Guard our songs
Construct our wishes.

Translation By Heba Zaphiriou-Zarifi