RIP Ziad Rahbani
Ziad Rahbani in Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? / What About Tomorrow? (1978)
RIP Ziad Rahbani January 1, 1956 - July 26, 2025
From The Guardian:
Much of his work during the long years of the Lebanese civil war (1975-90) reflected Beirut life in this era. Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? (1978) was set in a bar and included the celebrated line: “They say tomorrow will be better, but what about today?”
A self-declared communist, he was an active supporter of the Palestinian struggle for statehood, and had been influenced by witnessing the 1976 massacre of Palestinians by rightwing Christian militias at the Tel el-Zaatar refugee camp. He moved from Christian-dominated east Beirut to live in a Muslim area of the city.
From Al Jazeera:
Rahbani’s works reflected the hybrid heritage of Lebanon, which, until the civil war erupted in 1975, was a cultural melting pot. It also reflected the ensuing sectarian strife, which involved bloody street battles between rival militias and three years of violent Israeli occupation after the 1982 invasion.
While Fairuz transcended the powerful sectarian divides in the country, her son chose to be resolutely left-wing and secular, denouncing Lebanon’s longstanding divisions. His breakout play, Nazl el-Sourour (Happiness Hotel), premiered in 1974 when he was only 17, portrayed a society disfigured by class inequality and repression.
The play follows a group of workers who take over a restaurant to demand their rights, only to be dismissed by the political elite.
Rahbani was also a composer of staggering range. He infused traditional Arabic melodies with jazz, funk and classical influences, creating a hybrid sound that became instantly recognisable. His live performances were legendary, when he often played piano in smoky clubs in Hamra, one of Beirut’s major commercial districts.
Also from Al Jazeera:
In 2016, his 1978 play Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? / What About Tomorrow? was restored and released in cinemas in the region.
Whilst I may not have been following his news for a while, I never imagined Fairuz would outlive her son.
Here’s my favourite song written by Ziad Rahbani and sung by her, Al Bostah.