Palestine from Cairo series: Palestinian songwriter, vocalist Amal Kaawash moves audience to tears at El Warsha

Amira Noshokaty , Sunday 16 Jun 2024

Talented Palestinian artist Amal Kaawash brought the audiences to tears as she performed songs from her album Ally Al Maragih (Let the Swings Swing Higher) at the El-Warsha Theatre troupe last week.

Palestinian/Lebanese artist Amal Kaawash in her latest performance in Cairo. Photo by Amira Noshokat
Palestinian/Lebanese artist Amal Kaawash in her latest performance in Cairo. Photo by Amira Noshokaty

 

Amal Kaawash, born and raised in Lebanon, earned a degree in biology from the Arab University in Beirut in 2003.

Over the last two decades, Kaawash became an accomplished illustrator, songwriter, storyteller, and vocalist.

On Wednesday at El-Warsha, Kaawash began telling the story with the intro of a traditional Palestinian wedding song while beating on a daf.

“Henna Henna who brought the Henna we have a groom coming to our doorstep!”

She said on a trip to Germany she noticed that doves perform orchestrated songs that are very well rehearsed and leave very little room for improvisations.

Kaawash also talked about the power of sound.

She noted that the sound of drum beats brings back traumatic childhood experience from the war.

The sky can be a bliss but can also be a nightmare if the Israeli jetfighters return to aim down, she lamented.

Kaawash captivated the audience in a witty, joyous, and spontaneous performance with her powerful voice. 

She told stories of girls who died in a blink of an eye.

She also brought the audience into tears when she reminded them of the incredible strength of Palestinians and the amount of pain they have endured since 1948.

Hand-made cloth bags were sold at the event with the proceeds going to Palestinians.

Short link: