Democracy Now!
With Amy Goodman
A Nice and Long Interview
Don't Miss it!
"......Marcel Khalife - world-renowned Lebanese composer, singer and oud player - joins us in our firehouse studio for an extended conversation on war, censorship, Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, U.S. interference in his country and much more. Khalife is a cultural icon of the Arab world and is sometimes referred to as the Bob Dylan of Lebanon. He has consistently opposed war, performed in bombed-out buildings during the Lebanese civil war, and passionately defended the rights of Palestinians. In 2005 he was named UNESCO's Artist for Peace.....
Khalife is a cultural icon of the Arab world, he is sometimes called the Bob Dylan of Lebanon. He has consistently opposed war, performed in bombed-out buildings during the Lebanese civil war, and passionately defended the rights of Palestinians. In 2005 he was named UNESCO's Artist for Peace.
During Israel's bombing of Lebanon in 2006 Khalife wrote to fellow UNESCO Artists for Peace. He said, "Nothing justifies our art other than to speak for those who cannot speak. This is the cause for which we dedicated our efforts, and the cause that endorsed our voices. We only wished to take it as far as we can, and vowed to release our work as songs of love for, and unity with, the victims of persecution everywhere."
Marcel Khalife is also no stranger to controversy and persecution. He is banned in Tunisia, was tried for blasphemy by a Lebanese court, and was denounced by Bahraini parliamentarians for "encouraging debauchery."
Most recently, a venue in San Diego canceled his scheduled concert claiming it would be "divisive" and "unbalanced" to host Khalife without an Israeli artist alongside him.
Khalife and his Al-Mayadine ensemble have just completed a 25-city tour of the United States and Canada. Marcel Khalife joins me now in the firehouse studio in New York......
AMY GOODMAN:..... This song, dedicated to Mahmoud Darwish, why do you dedicate him to him? Talk about his significance in your work.
MARCEL KHALIFE: At the beginning of the Lebanese civil war, in ’76, I was confined to my village, because of the political events. I was not in agreement with the political tribe in our area, so I had to stay indoors, in my house. In that retreat, I only had the Oud and books of Darwish......
MARCEL KHALIFE: ......In San Diego, this was the first case of an ethnic nature. They said this would offend the Jewish community, according to them. They said this concert would offend the Jewish community. They did not agree with the right of return of Palestinians because the sponsoring organization was the Right of Return organization. Its incredible that this happens in a country which claims a culture of democracy. They banned the concert in that venue, although they had already received a deposit on the payment. But we did not give in. Together with the audience, we moved to another venue. It was a major concert, a significant concert. Everyone came. I always like to say no - against this tide of misery and filth.......
MARCEL KHALIFE: Very briefly and quickly. We ask the world not to help us, because this assistance whether American, French, or anything else, is assistance to consecrate the confessional system. Because what we are doing today, whether we elect a president or not, the situation will remain the same. Let the Lebanese do away with their confessional system and transform it into a secular one. So that the Lebanese will be united under the banner of Lebanon. And not under the banner of the confession, or the sect. If the world would help us achieve this, then it would be saving Lebanon. But it is clear that the world is seeking to consecrate this confessionalism.......
AMY GOODMAN: During your concert here in New York, you talked about the bombing of Lebanon, the bombs provided by the United States.
MARCEL KHALIFE: I talked about smart and not so smart weapons. I did not invent it. As we saw, the U.S. tried to prolong the war as long as possible. This is truly regrettable.......
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