Kafr Qara Festival Honors Marcel Khalifeh, Commemorates Shafiq Kabha

The "Festival of Loyalty" in Kafr Qara successfully concluded, drawing over 600 participants in a cultural event that honored the legacy of artist Shafiq Kabha and celebrated the iconic musician Marcel Khalifeh. The festival, organized by the Kafr Qara Municipality's Culture Department and the Qaraoun Cultural Palace, featured two main components: a tribute to the late Palestinian artist Shafiq Kabha and a musical concert titled "Shuddu al-Himma... Angham Marcel" (Raise Your Spirits... Marcel's Melodies), led by Maestro Mehran Mar'eb. This concert marked the first time such a performance was held in the Triangle region.

The event aimed to connect generations through art and preserve national memory and identity. A significant highlight was the communication with Marcel Khalifeh, who sent an impactful audio message accompanied by recent photos from his last concert. This message was specially dedicated to the people of Kafr Qara and the festival attendees, reinforcing Khalifeh's status as a global Arab and Palestinian figure who has consistently used his music to champion freedom and human dignity.

Maha Zahalka Masalha, director of the Qaraoun Cultural Palace, hosted the festival, emphasizing that loyalty is not just about remembering the past but actively preserving heritage for future generations. Mayor Firas Ahmed Budhi praised the cultural initiatives, stressing the importance of investing in arts and culture for building collective consciousness and strengthening identity.

The segment honoring Shafiq Kabha included emotional performances by attendees singing his songs, with his family present. A dabke (traditional folk dance) performance featured a segment inspired by Kabha's famous phrase, "Kasir Rabbak Biyassir" (May your Lord break it easily), which became a celebratory refrain. The festival also included a rare performance by the Al-Mahlaouia Folk Arts and Dabke Troupe, led by Jamal Habiballah, performing Palestinian dabke to Kabha's songs.

A powerful collective moment saw the audience holding olive branches while reciting the poem "I Walk Tall" by Palestinian poet Samih al-Qasim. This symbolic act underscored the festival's national and humanistic dimensions, representing steadfastness and adherence to identity. The musical segment celebrating Marcel Khalifeh's work, under Maestro Mar'eb's direction, combined beautiful melodies with strong lyrics, reflecting Khalifeh's association with poets like Mahmoud Darwish and Samih al-Qasim.

The festival successfully blended various aspects of Palestinian artistic expression, from folk songs and dabke to classical music and poetry, demonstrating Kafr Qara's capacity to create significant cultural events that resonate locally and nationally. The event concluded with a reaffirmation that authentic art endures, and Palestinian culture continues to find ways to celebrate memory and uphold dignity through music and poetry.