- 18:00
Under the patronage of the Lebanese Embassy in France and with the support of the Boulogne-Billancourt Town Hall, the Zahlé-Lebanon club is organizing a rich array of cultural events called Échos du Cèdre (Echoes of the Cedar: Culture and Hope along the Seine). The proceeds from this initiative will be donated to Lebanese students in France and Lebanese families in precarious situations. The event will take place at the Bernard Palissy space in Boulogne-Billancourt, from November 14 to 17, 2024, from 12 PM to 8 PM.
In the face of this terrible war that once again threatens the former land of honey and incense, the Lebanese diaspora in France turns to its ancestor, the cedar tree, to draw inspiration from its endurance amid the storms. The title of the event organized by the Zahlé-Lebanon club in France is meant to be taken literally: Échos du Cèdre; the echoes of the cedar from a wounded country are a call to maintain hope and showcase culture. From November 14 to 17, the Zahlé-France club will present concerts, workshops, conferences, book exhibitions and art displays “on the Seine” to symbolize resilience and forthcoming liberation.
The origins and role of the Zahlé-France club
Josiane Tamer, president of the Zahlé-France club and a computer engineer by training, explained to This is Beirut the origins of this social, cultural and humanitarian club, which she founded in 2019. That year, following a large gathering of the diaspora organized by the Zahlé town hall, she was inspired to establish a club to unite the Zahliote diaspora in France. The successive disasters of four cursed years had begun to shake Lebanon. After the financial crisis that impoverished the population, the Zahlé-France club committed to supporting Lebanese students in France by providing monthly aid. For Zahliote families who suddenly found themselves destitute, the club ensured they received heating fuel every winter. Then came the fateful August 4 explosion that devastated Beirut. “We mobilized to organize a fundraiser to rehabilitate a heavily impacted street, Rmeil, in collaboration with the Paris municipalities. Thus, the ‘Beirut in the Heart of Zahlé’ project was carried out alongside other Zahlé clubs worldwide.”
Is the Échos du Cèdre event paid?
“Only the Saturday lyrical concert is paid. The open doors over the four days are free. Their aim is also to lift the spirits of the diaspora. It must be said, the Lebanese diaspora fears the worst for parents, relatives and friends currently living in a Lebanon on fire and bleeding. Anxiously, they seek news of the wounded country and listen for the echoes of messages from the Lebanese cedar. Buildings can be destroyed, but no one can destroy our intangible heritage, our talents, our culture, our values.”
How did the relationship with the Boulogne-Billancourt Town Hall, a symbol of French-Lebanese friendship, form?
“We built a relationship of trust with the mayor and the town hall team through neighborhood connections. I myself live nearby, as do several club members. The Boulogne town hall and its members, who love Lebanon, have never abandoned us. They have been by our side, supporting our aid collections. For the Christmas market, they help us obtain the charitable chalet. For Échos du Cèdre, they are graciously providing us with the wonderful theater for four days, with the full support of the town hall staff.”
A rich and varied program
Among the highlights is the exhibition Women and Colors, followed by a conference on opening day with contemporary painters Sara Chalabi El Khalil and Raya Matta, moderated by curator Randa Sadaka. The debate will focus on the evolution and influence of women in Lebanese artistic creation. Sarah Chalabi El Khalil will present the perspective of pioneering artist Leila Beydoun Chalabi, her mother, discussing her practices and how she views the dissemination of her work in an ever-expanding context. Emerging platforms, the role of galleries, institutions and independent initiatives in promoting modern art will be among the topics discussed. Raya Matta will share her perspective as a contemporary artist, reflecting on the dissemination of her work in a globalized context and on the relationship between creation and commercialization.
A fundraising effort will be made through the sale of paintings to replenish the funds for expatriate students. Among the participating artists, Alexandra Moghabghab has also created works for the event, featuring carnivorous plants that grow from the depths of the sea, pushing aside anything in their path to surface. “It reminds us of our fate as Lebanese, attached to our homeland, constantly fighting to rise again,” emphasizes Josiane Tamer.
On November 15, Zeina Saleh Kayali will discuss the diversity of Lebanese music, sometimes oriental, sometimes western, during a conference titled About Lebanese Composers. The evening will continue with a recital by composer Élie Maalouf and the signing of the reference book Female Musical Figures of Lebanon.
On November 16, a concert titled Pleasures of Love, Desires for Peace is scheduled. The first part of this charity concert will showcase the talent of soprano Joumana Amiouni and pianist Félix Ramos from the Paris National Opera. The musical trio composed of Ghassan and Philippe Tarabay, along with Paul Marchiset, will perform in the second part.
On Sunday, November 17, a conference titled We Left Home… But What is Home, followed by a (French-language) debate with artist Sara Badr Schmidt on exile and belonging is scheduled. The session will conclude with the screening of Heritages, directed by Philippe Aractingi, featuring his wife Diane Aractingi, which explores themes of exile and collective memory. She portrays a Lebanese woman who wants to stay in France, while her husband wishes to return to Lebanon. The debate will be moderated by Natacha Dagher.
Josiane Tamer concludes, “The event is an invitation to listen to this echo: that of a tree which, despite the distance, whispers secrets of resilience to its diaspora. Deeply rooted in the native soil, it draws strength from its roots while keeping its head turned towards the sky, thanks to its unwavering faith.”
Comments