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The Palestinian singer Saint Levant transcends linguistic and cultural barriers, embodying the values of the Gnaoua festival: a «great space for social dialogue, encounters and conviviality». His music, a fusion of hip-hop and orientalized RnB, resonates with audiences of all ages, garnering millions of views online. Every note and lyric expresses his unwavering commitment to his roots and his people.
Last night, the artist ignited the second night of the 25th Gnaoua Festival on the iconic Moulay Hassan stage in Essaouira. Franco-Palestinian Marwan Abdelhamid took the stage dressed in black, revealing symbolic tattoos: the Palestinian territory before colonization and a watermelon, a potent symbol of Palestinian resistance.
Adorned with a Palestinian necklace, ring, and silver keffiyeh, he delivered a powerful and committed performance. His lyrics denounced the injustice and suffering endured by his people. The audience, many wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags, cheered in solidarity, chanting «Free Palestine!» With fervor, he condemned the ongoing war in Gaza, calling for «solidarity» and «peace». During his set, Saint Levant interweaved emblematic, socially conscious tracks like «Deira», «I Guess», and «From Gaza with Love», sharing glimpses of his personal journey. To conclude, he proclaimed in Arabic, «Long live Palestine, Long live Morocco!» to a deeply moved Moroccan audience. The crowd responded wholeheartedly by singing the Moroccan anthem.
Saint Levant's multicultural background
Born in Jerusalem on October 6, 2000, the artist grew up amidst the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the Second Intifada raging around him. His Franco-Algerian mother and Palestino-Serbian father instilled in him a rich tapestry of multiculturalism. He lived in Palestine until the age of seven, when his family was forced to flee the violence and relocate to Jordan in 2007. At seventeen, he moved to Santa Barbara, California, where his musical career began to flourish. His career took a significant turn at the age of 22, fueled by the buzz generated by his track «Very Few Friends».
A committed artist
The tragic events of October 7, 2023, marked by a Hamas attack and Israeli bombardment, solidified his resolve to champion the Palestinian cause through his art. He now pours his creative energy into this struggle, a mission he embraces wholeheartedly on stage and across social media. His earlier works, reflecting a lighter tone, have given way to a more activist approach in his recent releases.
His album «Deira», released on June 7 in collaboration with young Gazan rapper Mc Abdul, pays homage to his father's hotel in Gaza, destroyed during Israeli bombardments. The song's moving chorus speaks of «difficult nights» and the «big dreams» of those yearning to reach adulthood without ever finding a homeland like Palestine.
