Ziad Rahbani, iconic Lebanese cultural figure, political composer, and son of legendary singer Fairuz, has died. His artistic and ideological legacy shaped generations navigating the chaos of modern Lebanon.
Lebanon is mourning one of its most influential cultural figures. Ziad Rahbani, composer, pianist, playwright, and outspoken political commentator, has died at the age of 69. Born in 1956 to the legendary singer Fairuz and pioneering composer Assi Rahbani, Ziad grew up surrounded by music. Yet, he forged his own path, blending art, satire, and radical political thought.
He was only 17 when he composed Saalouni El Nass for his mother during his father’s hospitalization. That moment not only launched his music career but also opened the door to theater. His plays, performed during Lebanon’s darkest civil war years, gave voice to disillusioned youth—a generation lost amid violence and collapse.
Ziad Rahbani was a free thinker. His lifelong affiliation with the Lebanese Communist Party, his outspoken support for Arab resistance, and his rejection of sectarian systems made him a unique cultural force. In a country where atheism remains taboo, he fearlessly upheld controversial beliefs, drawing both admiration and criticism.
His personal life, including his marriage to Dalal Karam and the paternity controversy over their son Assi, also entered public discourse—fueling raw, confessional songs such as Marba el Dalal and Bisaraha.
His albums—Abou Ali, Halleluja, Ana Mouch Kafer, Monodose—showcase a polymorphic musical genius, effortlessly fusing jazz, Arabic melodies, and revolutionary rhythms. Through music, he spoke of broken love, political fury, and dreamlike introspection.
Ziad leaves behind a monumental artistic legacy and an emotional void. Like his theater—at times humorous, often poignant, always political—he will remain, for many, the artist who gave sound to the contradictions of modern Lebanon.
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