A Closer Look At - The Songs We Carry: Middle Eastern and Venezuelan Memories and Melodies

On October 23, 2021 Al-Bustan hosted “The Songs We Carry: Middle Eastern and Venezuelan Memories and Melodies”, a virtual concert featuring Composer and Vocalist Miriam Elhajli and Master Percussionist Hafez Kotain.

The concert began with remarks by Al-Bustan Executive Director Mohannad Ghawanmeh and the honored musicians, setting the stage for the unconventional pairing of a vocalist and percussionist with backgrounds infused with the folkloric songs and rhythms of Venezuela and the SWANA (Southwest Asia North Africa) region.

Angustia, meaning Anguish, opened the concert. Sung with deep feeling by Elhajli, her voice resounded with emotion as Kotain expertly interlaced the Riq into this beloved Spanish melody. Elhajli’s own compositions followed, first Gold & God and then Draw of the Cards during which Kotain played the Cajón, enhancing the sounds of South American in Elhajli’s performance, while infusing the rhythm of the Riq and other Arab percussion throughout.

Following Elhajli’s compositions, Motivos, enchanted the audience, with listeners commenting:“What a mesmerizing and soulful singing.”“Wow, I’m blow away…”The skillful and soft accompaniment by Master Percussionist Kotain was not forgotten, with one audience member sharing:“…Hafez [is] showing us how elegant soft playing can be in accompaniment.” The folksong Ah Ya Zein was the perfect conclusion to this musical performance, and led into a conversation on the concert and the artists moderated by Executive Director Ghawanmeh.

Leading the conversation, Elhajli gave the background of the title of the concert, “The Songs We Carry”. Elhajli explained that, having left Venezuela as a child, she carries the songs of her homeland with her as a way to connect with her heritage. Aya Zein, the final song of the concert and only in Arabic, is a song known across the Arabic-speaking world and diaspora, and can mean, Oh, Good One. The folkloric songs featured throughout the concert connect people all over the world with their homelands, each other, and, as Elhajli noted, with history. It was a pleasure to host this special pairing of dedicated artists whose cultural backgrounds complement each other with ease. If you missed the concert, you can view it here.