The countdown has begun for the launch of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts in Jordan, 2024, in its 38th edition from July 24 to August 3, despite opposition from various factions in Jordan due to the war in Gaza. The festival's director, Ayman Samawi, confirmed in press statements that this year's festival is different from previous years as it occurs under regionally challenging circumstances, referring to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. He revealed that this year's festival is a national solidarity event specifically for the people of Gaza, featuring cultural and artistic programs committed to supporting the Palestinian cause, and emphasized that its activities would convey a message to the Palestinian and Arab people that we will continue regardless of the circumstances and challenges.
### Festival Message
The Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts represents a unique cultural, social, economic, and tourism phenomenon with national, Arab, and global dimensions. It carries deep cultural and political messages and plays a significant role in revitalizing the economic and tourism movement in Jordan in general, particularly in the city of Jerash and its local community. According to the festival management, the surprise of the 38th edition is the artist with the amazing voice, Hiba Tawaji, who has garnered trust similar to that of Mansour and Osama Rahbani when they presented her in major musical theater productions in the Middle East.
Tawaji is distinguished by her vibrancy, humanitarian presence, self-belief in her work, and mastery of the Egyptian dialect with melodic singing. This year she continues her artistic tour that began in London, followed by Toronto, Montreal, Morocco, and others, presenting a historic global concert at the Olympia theater in Paris under the artistic management of producer and composer Osama Rahbani, featuring world-renowned musician Ibrahim Maalouf. This concert is marked by multiple artistic surprises and participation from notable global voices, such as stars Lara Fabian and Florent Pagny.
In the ancient and beautiful atmosphere of Jerash, the echoes of its civilization will resonate with Hiba Tawaji on the evening of Thursday, July 25, the second day of the festival, accompanied by the creative musician Osama Rahbani, in one of the strongest concerts included in the festival's 38th edition.
### Jerash This Year is Different
Jordanian media figure specialized in culture and art, Lama Al-Shuboul, remarked that this year's Jerash Festival is different and takes place under extremely difficult conditions, mourning the situation of the people of Gaza. She indicated that the festival, under the slogan "The Promise Continues," is a message of solidarity with the Palestinian people amidst the atmosphere of war and destruction. Al-Shuboul added that Jordan's commitment to holding the festival on schedule and under this slogan reaffirms full solidarity with what is happening in Gaza, clarifying that the festival management is keen to present cultural and artistic segments reflecting the Palestinian presence, which is the core of the festival's messages to the world.
She highlighted that facing challenges and establishing solidarity can be achieved through various means, including arts and culture, reaffirming that the attendance of Palestinian teams and poets at the festival is a confirmation of the continuous Palestinian struggle through all means, including singing and cultural and poetic creation. Al-Shuboul explained that the festival management announced various events that embody solidarity and support for the people of the Gaza Strip, stating that all segments and activities will be central to the international cultural event to advocate and support the Palestinian cause.
### Sol Band in Jerash
The Palestinian band "Soul" will perform a concert as part of the Jerash Festival in the main square of the ancient city, presenting a song for Gaza titled "My Children Are Birds of Paradise," which is the first song from a series completed in Gaza during the war. The "Soul" band excelled in harsh conditions and succeeded in innovating life in the face of wounds, becoming a voice for the painful moment, continuing its role in celebrating the Palestinian wound and the call of disasters which resonates widely through word, melody, emotion, and a tender voice, stronger than any sound and penetrating our feelings amid all this pain.
"Soul" is a band that relies on global human influence, blending folk and pop music in 30 songs from Palestinian and Arab music, showcasing its artistic prowess on social media and YouTube. The new song has a poignant and human musicality that evokes hope and sorrow amid the mourning in wounded Gaza, presented by a band that condemns death, killing, destruction, and the loss of children with voices expressing pain and a sense of injustice, while simultaneously believing in victory.
This year, singing events will not take place at the southern theater, while the northern theater will host concerts performed by prominent stars in Jordan and the Arab world, such as Marcel Khalifa, Aafaf Radi, Oumayma Al-Khalil, Omar Al-Abdallat, Diana Karzon, Faiya Youmnan, Nidaa Sharara, and other artists.
