Gnaoua Festival’s 25th anniversary celebration received a jolt of energy on Friday, at the Moulay Hassan stage, as Palestinian rapper Saint Levant delivered a powerful performance.
This Jerusalem-born artist, known for his multilingual rhymes and fusion of styles, captivated the audience with his electrifying stage presence.
Saint Levant, whose real name is Marwan Abdelhamid, is no stranger to blending cultures.
Raised in Gaza and Jordan before moving to California, his music reflects his diverse background.
During the performance, fans were treated to a selection of Saint Levant’s most famous songs, with the energy escalating throughout the set.
The night culminated in a rousing performance of his hit track “Deira.”
Palestinian musicians Saint Levant and MC Abdul joined forces on “Deira,” a song celebrating the spirit and culture of Gaza.
Performed in the traditional Shaabi Arab style, the track is a homage to the land and its people.
Levant, a Palestinian-Algerian-French-Serbian artist based in Los Angeles, explained the song’s deeper meaning before performing it.
“Deira” is the name of a hotel his architect father built with his mother in Gaza in 2000.
Meaning “Kasbah” or “old city,” the hotel symbolized hope and resilience. Constructed with mud due to limited access to cement, it stood proudly on the beach with 22 rooms, a testament to his father’s talent.
Sadly, tragedy struck. On July 16, 2014, Israeli rocket fire took the lives of four children playing near the hotel. More recently, the hotel itself was completely destroyed in an Israeli bombing.
“As Palestinians, if there’s one thing that we know is to never give up and to always make sure that we will return to our country,” Saint Levant said.
This Palestinian artist isn’t a one-hit wonder when it comes to songs about his homeland.
Saint Levant has several songs that celebrate Palestine, including powerful tracks he performed at the Gnaoua festival like “From Gaza, with Love” and “On this Land.”
These songs showcase his deep connection to his heritage and his commitment to using his music to speak to the Palestinian experience.
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