Haidar Eid
Dr Haidar Eid is Associate Professor of Postcolonial and Postmodern Literature at Gaza's al-Aqsa University. He has written widely on the Arab-Israeli conflict, including articles published at Znet, Electronic Intifada, Palestine Chronicle, and Open Democracy.
Dr Eid will be visiting South Africa in January and February 2023. Stay tuned for more details to follow.
He most recently collaborated with the PSA to launch the Mariyamiya video - a musical story that poignantly weaves together traditional Palestinian songs of resistance, culture, and courage. Watch it below.
Mariyamiya Video
Press Statement - Mariyamiya Video Launch
The Palestinian scholar, cultural activist, and music artist Dr Haidar Eid released a powerful new music video for the song, Mariyamiya. The song and video was premiered at a special webinar on January 7th, 2023. The webinar was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Alliance in collaboration with the SA BDS Coalition and the Pan African Palestine Solidarity Network. Along with inputs from the Mariyamiya’s creators, the webinar also featured presentations from civil-society leaders in the Palestine solidarity movement, activist poets and artists.
The webinar began with an introductory address by Saleh Hijazi who is the Africa coordinator for the Palestinian BDS National Committee. Hijazi gave a passionate and informative address, highlighting the importance of supporting the Palestinian cause and the role that art and the BDS movement plays in this struggle. His words set the tone for the evening and reminded attendees of the broader political context in which the music and art were being presented. Hijazi’s introduction was complemented by addresses from Roshan Dadoo, the coordinator of the SA BDS Coalition, and Apoorva Gautam, the South Asia Coordinator at the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee.
Interspersed between these notable addresses, were performances from Shari Maluleke, Lara Reddy, the Cape Cultural Collective, and Estefana Vega. Their poems, musical renditions, and visual performances added to the provocative atmosphere of the event. The South African poets captivated the audience with their moving and deeply personal poetry, while the Cape Cultural Collective brought their unique blend of traditional African music and contemporary sounds to the virtual stage. These performances did well to bring emotion and whet our appetites for the main act – Mariyamiya.
The Mariyamiya video is a poignant and visually stunning depiction of traditional Palestinian wedding rituals. It seamlessly interweaves themes and lyrics that espouse the Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination. Set against the backdrop of the beautiful and historic landscapes of Palestine, the video tells the story of the Palestinian people’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
Speaking on the video, Dr Haidar Eid noted that it promotes Palestinian culture and preserves the stories of pre-1948 Palestine. “These were stories of love, death, marriage, chivalry, courtship, harvest, resistance, and bravery. Those stories, represented in cultural practices, are what has kept Palestine alive from generation to generation. Weddings have become cultural sites of resistance and survival. And no matter whether the old die, still the young have proven that they will not forget. Not a single Palestinian wedding ceremony does not play those songs that relate current resistance to old rituals.” This video is a tribute to the strength and resilience of the Palestinian people, created with the hope that it will inspire others to stand in solidarity and fight for justice.
The webinar heightened our sense of solidarity with Palestine and inspired us to further action.
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