Lebanese Singer Ahmed Kaabour Passes Away at 70

Ahmad Kaabour, the celebrated Lebanese singer and composer best known for penning the enduring pro-Palestinian anthem Ounadikom, has died at the age of 70. His passing was confirmed on Thursday by his son, visual artist Marwan Kaabour, in a statement posted on Instagram.

Funeral prayers are scheduled to be held on Friday at the Al Khashoggi Mosque in Beirut, followed by burial at the Martyrs' Cemetery. The announcement has sparked an outpouring of tributes from artists and cultural figures across the Arab world, who gathered on social media to reflect on Kaabour's profound influence and his unique contribution to Arab music.

A Voice Born in War

Born in Beirut in 1955 to a violinist father, Mahmoud Al Rashidi, Kaabour studied theatre at the Lebanese University before embarking on a career performing in small cultural gatherings. His musical trajectory shifted dramatically with the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975. It was during this turbulent period that he composed Ounadikom, setting a poem by the renowned Palestinian writer Tawfiq Ziad to music.

The song, which translates to "I Call Out to You," was first sung in a field hospital before spreading rapidly through universities, refugee camps, and demonstrations across the region. Its opening lines—"I call out to you, I clasp your hands, I kiss the ground beneath your feet"—became a rallying cry for solidarity and resistance.

"The song became more famous than I did," Kaabour reflected in a 2022 interview on the Arabic podcast Stories from Palestine. "I never imagined that something written during a night of war, first sung in a field hospital, would later be taken up by people."

Art Over Politics

Despite being frequently labeled a "political singer," Kaabour consistently rejected the notion that his work was defined solely by its political messaging. He argued that the longevity of a song depended on its artistic merit rather than its subject matter.

"I say the basic measure of a song is whether it succeeds," Kaabour stated. "You can sing a song for a martyr, for example, but if it does not have the artistic and aesthetic elements, the cause dies and the song dies." He believed Ounadikom endured not just because of the national cause it represented, but because of its inherent aesthetic value.

His musical style was characterized by simple arrangements, often led by the guitar, and delivered in a matter-of-fact, unpretentious tone that avoided theatricality.

A Legacy of Collaboration and Children's Theatre

Kaabour's career spanned several decades, producing a discography that included albums such as Houb (1982), Nihna El Nas (1984), Bayna W Baynak (1990), Baddi Ghani La Nas (2008), and Lamma Tgheebe (2019).

Beyond his solo work, he maintained strong ties with cultural initiatives in the UAE. In 2022, he collaborated with the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre on the "Eloquent Child" project, composing educational songs to teach the Arabic alphabet.

He also performed in the UAE, notably at a 2009 charity concert in Abu Dhabi organized by the Al Quds University Friends Committee, where he raised funds for students in Jerusalem.

Kaabour was also deeply involved in children's theatre, working with groups like Firkat al-Sanabel and the Lebanese Puppet Theatre to write and compose music for over 20 productions.

Tributes and Remembrance

Following the news of his death, colleagues and admirers paid their respects. Lebanese actor Talal Al-Jardi described the news as "very harsh and painful," noting that Kaabour's songs would remain eternal. Actress Carmen Lebbos remembered him as an artist who "painted a beautiful image of Lebanon."

Kaabour is survived by his wife, the artist Iman Bikdash, and their son Marwan. His official website concludes with a poignant reflection on his creative spirit: "When asked what song is closest to his heart, he answered: the one I haven't composed yet."

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