Fairuz Forever: A Tribute to the Voice of Lebanon and the Arab World

posted on: Nov 12, 2025

By: Emma Campbell / Arab America Contributing Writer

Next week, November 20/21, the legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz turns 90/91. Her voice has carried through generations, becoming a symbol of pride, hope, and unity for Lebanon and the Arab world. Yet, this year’s celebration carries a deep sense of loss following the passing of her son, composer and playwright Ziad Rahbani, on July 26, 2025. Earlier this month, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. partnered with the Arab America Foundation to honor them both with Fairuz Forever, a musical celebration of their enduring influence. In this tribute piece, Arab America Contributing Writer Emma Campbell highlights Fairuz and Ziad Rahbani’s legacies in the Arab World.

Fairuz – The Voice of Lebanon

Fairuz’s voice has become an emblem of Lebanese endurance. According to Mohamed Abi Samra, “no-one has bestowed upon Lebanon a more radiant, tender, or exalted image since the early 1950s”. Her rise to stardom began through collaborations with the Rahbani Brothers, Assi and Mansour. Here, Fariuz refined her voice and tone into the timeless symbol of unity it is today. Through their partnership, Fairuz cemented her fame as a radio star and later an actress, defining the golden era of Lebanese music and theater. 

During the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), Fairouz became a rare voice played on both sides of the conflict. According to Celine Kasem on X, “One of the only things we can pretty much all agree on is Fairouz, generations on generations Fairouz’s music has infiltrated all of our hearts, at home, in wars, in pain, in diaspora missing the home, everywhere”. Over the years, Fairouz has become more than a singer. She has evolved into a cultural institution which has redefined Lebanon. The sense of longing for a “Lebanon that once was” facilitated the development of Fairouzian Lebanese nationalism. By focusing on Lebanon’s beauty as a homeland, Fairouz’s music hoped to separate itself from the chaos of war. Within this emphasis on national identity and longing, Fairouz captured Lebanon’s soul and created a timeless voice that continues to resonate across generations. 

Ziad Rahbani – The Conscience of a Generation

Building on this legacy, Fairouz’s son Ziad Rahbani reshaped her music, introducing political commentary, satire, and modern compositions that reflected the complexities of Lebanon’s present. While Fairouz sang on Lebanon’s idealized homeland, Ziad Rahbani gave voices to its realities. A groundbreaking composer, Ziad Rahbani was the pioneer of “Oriental jazz”, which blended Western music with Arabic tones. With his passing in July 2025, Lebanon has officially ended a pivotal era in its musical history. 

Through music, theater, and film, Ziad Rahbani skillfully combined humor, social critique, and political commentary. He challenged societal norms, satirized political corruption, and exposed the absurdities of sectarian divisions. In doing so, however, he maintained a deep connection to Lebanese culture. Regarding his passing, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated, “Ziad Rahbani, a brilliant creator, you were the honest voice of our generation, committed to human and national causes. You dared to say what many of us did not dare to express. You will forever remain the voice of beauty, resistance, justice, and truth”.  

By mocking Lebanon’s divisions and illuminating the country’s social contradictions, Ziad Rahbani created a new genre of art that was provocative and deeply relatable. His collaborations with Fairuz allowed the golden age of Lebanese music to evolve, merging nostalgia with contemporary commentary to embrace “darker ballads and jazzy torch songs”. Even in death, his compositions continue to resonate, influence artists and audiences alike. This was seen in the many condolences for Ziad Rahbani across the world, among them Lebanese pop star Elissa. On X, she wrote, “Ziad Rahbani was no ordinary artist and certainly no ordinary person. His musical and artistic genius is one of a kind, never to be repeated. With his loss, Lebanon has lost a part of itself, and a large piece of its collective memory. Fairuz, our ambassador to the whole world, is first and foremost Ziad’s mother today. May God grant her strength and patience”. 

The Kennedy Center Tribute – “Fairuz Forever”

On Friday, November 7, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, hosted Fairuz Forever: A Tribute to the Voice of Lebanon and the Arab World. In partnership with the Arab America Foundation, this event was a striking musical tribute honoring both Fairuz and her late son, Ziad Rahbani.

The concert featured the incomparable Palestinian vocalist Nibal Malshi with Firas Zreik as musical director and qanoun virtuoso. He was joined by a distinguished takht ensemble, including Gideon Forbes on woodwinds, Jemina Brechoire on piano, Bashar Farran on bass, and Alber Baseel on percussion.

By honoring their intertwined legacies, the performances reflected Lebanon’s enduring spirit, deep cultural memory, and the intricate beauty of its musical heritage. Nibal Malshi’s graceful vocal ornamentations brought new life to Fairuz’s timeless classics composed by the Rahbani Brothers, while also illuminating the creative brilliance of Ziad Rahbani’s groundbreaking compositions.

By blending nostalgia with modernity, the tribute concert brought together audiences of all generations. Commemorating the enduring voices of Lebanon, the event served as a powerful reminder of Lebanon’s resilience, beauty, and the timeless power of artistic expression.

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