After a 12-year absence the Lebanese composer and singer Marcel Khalifa performed Friday a concert as part of the 38th Cartage International Festival which kicked off on July 12 and will continue until August 23, 2002.
Attended by an audience of 10,000, the two hours and a half concert included a number of Khalifa’s new songs written by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. These include Mohammed, which is about the Palestinian martyr child Mohammed al Dorrah. Khalifa said he would dedicate the song to all Palestinians, according to Tunisian press.
The Lebanese singer performed also Taalim al Hurriya (teachings of freedom), al Andalos Concerto mowashah which is a poem including new music and Mudaabah (dallying), a musical and singing show from the al Andalos heritage’s gipsy flamenco and nomads who keep moving from one place to another. He read verses from bin Zaidoun poems dedicating them to the Iraqi musician Zeriab.
Accompanied with Umaimah Khalil, Khalifa sang “For Dima”, the Palestinian baby girl who was assassinated at the age of one. Upon the request of the audience Khalifa sang some of his old songs including Muntaseb al Qamati Amshi, Ahenno Ela Khobz Ummi (I long for my mom’s bread), “Rita” and “Passport” with the audience interrupting him each time by raising the Palestinian flag and shouting slogans in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Khalifa’s visit to Tunisia comes within the framework of a tour in many countries including Rome, Montreal, USA and Morocco. He will conclude his tour after Tunisia with two concerts at Jerash Festival in Jordan -- Albawaba.com
