LEBANON-ASSI EL HALLANI Assi El Helani calls for Arab unity as he releases operetta of peace

Record ID: 432233

  • Title: LEBANON-ASSI EL HALLANI Assi El Helani calls for Arab unity as he releases operetta of peace
  • Date: 18th March 2015
  • Summary: MOUNT LEBANON, LEBANON (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE SINGER, ASSI EL HELANI, SAYING: "There is killing, slaughter, crimes and bombings in every Arab region from Iraq to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Palestine. You see there is no security nor peace anywhere, and unfortunately the killer is the one saying 'I am Arab, I am Muslim' and I say he is
  • Embargoed: 2nd April 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA924E58WM1343C42T3KN3UJ0R
  • Story Text: Various Arab singers from Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Tunisia have joined Lebanese singer Assi El Helani in his initiative to release a three-language operetta aiming to deliver an Arab message to face violence.
    The operetta entitled 'Riyah Al-Boghod' (Arabic for The Winds Of Hatred) features El Helani, his sister Maritta and various talents from the television show The Voice: Mourad Bouriki from Morocco, Hala Al Kassir from Syria, Marwa Naji from Egypt, Adnan Bresam from Iraq, Lamia Jammal from Tunis, and Ghazi Al-Amir and Rabih Jaber from Lebanon.
    "The title of the project translates it's content, if you want, because the words 'The Winds Of Hatred' suggest that there is hatred, and when there is hatred we always ask God to give us love, peace and tranquility, which we are not seeing anymore. There is no more love on earth. There is no more peace on earth," said El Helani during an interview with Reuters at his house in Mount Lebanon.
    Some Arabic lyrics from the song can be literally translated into English as "We were born during the night and stayed late, we reached a place that is not ours" and then continues "It is time for you, night, to erase dark and suffering, we have no energy left, our hands are killing us".
    El Helani explained how he wanted the expression "our hands are killing us" to be perceived.
    "When we say in 'The Winds Of Hatred' "our hands are killing us" (means) we have reached a point where there should be one enemy for all of us, we should all together have hands in hands as Arabs to liberate our land and step forward to try to make an Arab union," he continued.
    The video clip, directed by Lebanese director Adel Serhan, shows violent scenes without turning to blood.
    The images, broadcast on different Lebanese TV channels, show children representing humanity while evil takes the form of a masked and unidentifiable man who attacks a school and displaces the children.
    At the end of the video the children, holding white flags bearing the phrase 'Arabism', win the day.
    El Helani said that it was time to educate new generations on the concepts of love and peace, describing the violence in the region as a "major plot to discredit the Arab human and Muslim human, to erase our culture, heritage and beliefs".
    "There is killing, slaughter, crimes and bombings in every Arab region from Iraq to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Palestine. You see there is no security nor peace anywhere, and unfortunately the killer is the one saying 'I am Arab, I am Muslim' and I say he is totally unrelated to Islam, because sure, Islam is a religion of mercy and tolerance," the Lebanese singer told Reuters.
    The operetta, which El Helani described as a humanitarian message to stimulate awareness and a piece not released for commercial purposes, is written by Lebanese poet Nizar Francis and composed by El Helani.
    The project is co-produced by El Helani, Universal Music Media MENA and the Ajialouna organisation.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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