Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 3:11 PM
— ES Imane BROUGI —
Essaouira – The rising star of the international music scene, the Palestinian rapper with plural origins and a multi-generational audience, Saint Levant, delivered, Friday evening on the Moulay Hassan stage, a captivating and unprecedented performance, carrying messages of peace and tolerance transcending cultural boundaries, on the occasion of the 25th Gnaoua Festival of Essaouira.
Skillfully blending influences from traditional Arabic music, RnB and hip-hop, this committed artist, who carries Palestine in his heart and places it at the center of his art, has made a call for peace, freedom and love resonate in the sky of the city of Trade Winds.
Keffiyeh on their shoulders, carrying the Palestinian flag as high as possible, the audience came en masse, of all ages and backgrounds, interacting with every note and every word. He was won over by an anthology of the most famous titles from Saint Levant, whose real name is Marwan Abdelhamid, notably “From Gaza with love”, “Very Few Friends”, “On this land”, “Deira”…
Released in February 2024, the title “Deira” evokes a hotel overlooking the sea in the Al Rimal district of Gaza that his father, an architect and entrepreneur, had designed and managed. The Deira Hotel was one of the most beautiful buildings in the city and the place where Marwan lived as a child. It was recently destroyed in the wake of the war.
The power of the lyrics and the catchy melodies touched the hearts and minds of every spectator present, creating a warm atmosphere of solidarity and communion. His internationally acclaimed pieces, written in Arabic, French and English, were a great success with an enthusiastic audience.
With his charisma and stage presence, the 23-year-old artist, headliner of the Festival, addressed his audience throughout the evening to express his love and support for his home country.
In a statement to the press, Saint Levant wanted to thank the management of the Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira for its invitation to perform at this cultural event which promotes tolerance by bringing together artists and music from the four corners of the world.
Saying he was happy to share Palestinian culture with a wide audience, he expressed his wish to take part in future editions of the festival.
Much more than just a concert, it was a celebration of the values of peace, freedom and coexistence through music. Saint Levant’s performance proved that music is a powerful vector of noble universal messages, capable of breaking down borders and uniting people.
Saint Levant offered a performance that will remain engraved in the memories of festival-goers. His performance in Essaouira confirms his status as a talented artist to follow closely, a true ambassador of peace and love through his art.
Born to a French-Algerian mother and a Serbian-Palestinian father, Marwan Abdelhamid was born in Jerusalem during the second Intifada. He spent ten years in Gaza, to which he dedicated his first EP “From Gaza with love”.
In 2007, Marwan and his family were forced to flee to Jordan, where he would live the rest of his youth until settling in Los Angeles. Drawing inspiration from his origins with influences that mix traditional Arabic music, RnB and hip hop, the young artist embraces the plurality of his own cultural heritage, that of the Arab community around the world and the Palestinian struggle.
