MAWAL FOR SYRIA
Mawal For Syria. Video by Geert Mul 2016.
Featuring Anas Maghrebi, Michel Banabila & Geert Mul.
Single screen video 07:42 mins.
Collection Stedelijk Museum Schiedam. Collection of Hugo and Carla Brown, Cobra to Contemporary.
A Mawal is an improvised form of Arabic music, characterized by its poetic and expressive nature. This Mawal is performed by Anas Maghrebi (vocals), with music by Michel Banabila and video by Geert Mul. The lyrics of this Mawal were popularized by the iconic singer Sabah Fakhri (1933–2021), one of the most celebrated singers in the Arab world. The title Khil Assakani comes from the opening words of an old poem attributed to the poet Sayed Abou Hafeza.
The lyrics describe a moment where a close friend or lover offers a drink—a gesture often interpreted as both literal and symbolic, representing spiritual intoxication or the love of God.
This Mawal was performed live at Yukunkun, Beirut, in 2015 by Anas Maghrebi (vocals), with music by Michel Banabila and video by Geert Mul. The performance was later edited into a single-screen video by Geert Mul: Mawal for Syria, 2016.
Credits:
Anas Maghribi : lead vocal.Michel Banabila : music, sampler & synths. Geert Mul : live video and single screen video 2016.
Additional violin samples – used with kind permission – by Salar Asid.
Additional vocal samples – used with kind permission – by Daniella Bernoulli.
Recorded during the Global Week For Syria Festival.
Producer & organizer : Hannibal Saad.
We would like to acknowledge the support of the NL Fonds Podiumkunsten and the Embassy of the kingdom of the Netherlands in Beirut.
http://www.syrianmusiclives.com/projects/global-week