Best Photos of July 28: From the funeral of Ziad Rahbani to the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore
TOPSHOT - Mourners gather around the hearse of Lebanese musician and composer Ziad Rahbani outside Khoury Hospital in Beirut's central Hamra district on July 28, 2025. Lebanon mourned musician and composer Ziad Rahbani, son of iconic singer Fairuz and a musical pioneer in his own right, who died on July 26 aged 69 after a decades-long career that revolutionised the country's artistic scene. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP) Show less
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The National
13 hours ago
- The National
From Ziad Rahbani to Naima Samih: Arab celebrities who died in 2025
From a pioneering Emirati actress who helped lay the foundations of national television and theatre, to a Lebanese composer who soundtracked the social and political pulse of his homeland, the Arab cultural scene has been etched by significant loss in 2025. Spanning music, film, television, literature and visual arts, these 11 artists not only shaped the creative landscape in their own country, but also brought Arab creativity to the global stage. 1. Mohammed Al Tawayan: January 31 The Saudi actor and playwright passed away at the age of 79. Renowned for blending deft social commentary into his theatre and television works, particularly in the series Awdat Asweed and Tabeeb Bil‑Misha'ab, Al-Tawayan is credited with raising the bar when it comes to domestic Saudi stories being told on stage and screen. 2. Maha Bayrakdar Al Khal: February 22 The Syrian‑Lebanese poet, visual artist, children's book author and TV presenter passed away at the age of 77, in Lebanon, reportedly after a long illness. Born in Damascus, she released poetry collections, illustrated children's stories, and curated arts and cultural events in Beirut. She was the wife of the late influential poet Yusuf al‑Khal, and mother to actors Ward and Youssef al-Khal. 3. Naima Samih: March 8 Hailed in her homeland as 'the Lady of tarab', the veteran Moroccan singer died in Rabat at the age of 72. A defining voice in Arab music since the 1970s, Samih rose to fame with hits such as Jrit Ou Jarit and Wagif Aala Babkom, and reportedly became the third Arab singer – after Egypt's Umm Kulthum and Lebanon's Fairuz – to perform at Paris's Olympia theatre in 1978. 4. Inas Al Najjar: March 31 The Tunisian actress died in a Cairo hospital after developing sepsis caused by a ruptured gallbladder. She was 41. Best known for her debut in Mido Mashakel (2003) and her appearance in this year's Ramadan series El Halangy. 5. Subhy Otry: April 18 The Syrian television presenter and entertainment columnist died of a heart attack in Germany, aged 48. At ease both in the studio and on the red carpet, Otry was a leading anchor of the entertainment programmes ET Bil Arabi and Trending. 6. Suliman Eid: April 18 The Egyptian actor and comedian died in Cairo from a reported heart attack – aged 63. A graduate of Egypt's Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts, Eid appeared in more than 300 productions – films, television series and stage plays – earning a reputation as a seasoned character actor in hits such as El Nazer and Hammam in Amsterdam. 7. Fakhri Odeh: May 6 The Kuwaiti actor, who died aged 75, was revered for his work across theatre, radio, television and children's programming. Odeh brought warmth and gravitas to Gulf media – from dramas such as Al Alkdar and Darb Al Zalik to the children's show Salamtak – in a career spanning more than five decades. His range and enduring presence made him a fixture on the Gulf cultural scene. 8. Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina: May 23 The influential Algerian director died in Algiers at the age of 91. His film Chronicle of the Years of Fire was the first – and remains the only – Arab and African film to win the Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival. His body of work – including The Winds of the Aures and Sandstorm – cemented his status as a cinematic chronicler of postcolonial struggle and North African identity. 9. Samiha Ayoub: June 3 The legendary Egyptian actress died in Cairo aged 93, ending a celebrated six-decade career across stage, film, radio and television. Popular roles include the films Bein el-Atlal (1959) and El Resala (1976), as well as the television drama El Mesaya (2012). Ayoub has also been described as a mentor to younger generations of actors, including Hanan Motawie and Ahmed Helmy. 10. Raziqa Al Taresh: July 4 The Emirati theatre and television pioneer died aged 71 following a prolonged battle with cancer. Starting her career as a child, she rose to prominence in the 1970s with the comedy Ish'hafan and went on to shape Emirati entertainment across decades. Her passing prompted tributes across the Gulf, acknowledging her foundational role in national television drama. 11. Ziad Rahbani: July 26 The Lebanese composer, playwright and political commentator died aged 69. The son of singer Fairuz and the late composer Assi Rahbani, he was widely regarded as one of the most distinctive creative voices to emerge from Lebanon in the past five decades. He rose to prominence during the Lebanese Civil War with a series of groundbreaking plays and musicals that blended jazz, classical Arabic music, and colloquial dialogue with biting political and social commentary.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
a day ago
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Art as Remembrance: The Creators Honouring Beirut's Blast Through Their Moving Works
Today marks the five-year anniversary of the Beirut blast – a tragedy that rocked not just the capital, but all of Lebanon, reverberating far beyond the country itself. The whole world felt the sadness, but also saw the admirable bouncing back and banding together of Lebanon's people. Here, Bazaar Arabia shares a list of five Lebanon-based artists who commemorated the tragedy through their art Lebanon pauses in remembrance today, as the date marks five years since the tragedy of the August 4th Beirut Blast. Another year passes, and while the Lebanese people continue to forge forwards, powering through with their undeniable zest for life, the tragedy is far from forgotten. Here, Bazaar Arabia pays tribute to the artworks inspired by the unwavering spirit of Beirutis across the globe, shining a spotlight on the healing journey of its creatives. Celebrating art in all forms, we discover the inspiring stories of remembrance and renewal by heroes with paintbrushes, pens, and cameras firmly in hand. Dia Mrad, Photographer Dia Mrad had been capturing Beirut and its architecture for real estate jobs, and his own admiration for many years; but his archives consisted mostly of the year 2020. After the Beirut explosion, out of his fear that the beautiful monumental buildings of his city would soon collapse, the Lebanese architect and photographer began doing what he does best, in an attempt to preserve as much as he could through photography. 'The Road to Reframe' by Dia Mrad, is a photo series that captures architecture after the explosion, exhibiting the beauty of Beirut even when scarred. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dia Mrad (@diamrad) In a photo taken by Dia, two days after the Beirut explosion, of Quantum House on Sursock Street the image of the wreckage is caption with a quote by Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran, a fitting reminder to ease the pain and give Beirutis hope. 'Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.' Gebran Khalil Gebran Brady Black, Journalist Beirut-based American visual journalist Brady Black was inspired to draw portraits of more than 200 victims of the blast on a memorial wall near the port. With help from art institute called 'Art of Change' and volunteers, Brady spent nearly four months drawing black and white portraits of the 200 victims. Each portrait is around 10 square feet and portrays an image of each victim, an ode to the people gone too soon for they should be remembered, honoured and seen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ART OF CHANGE (@ Carol Mansour, Film Maker Lebanese-Palestinian independent documentary film maker, Carol Mansour founded Forward Film Production in 2000 in Beirut, Lebanon. Carol's work reflects her concern for human rights and social justice, bring causes to the forefront through art, raising awareness and giving a voice to the unheard. Just two months after the explosion, Mansour produced a short film titled Shattered: Beirut 6.07. Throughout the film she explores her city in the blast's aftermath, talking to friends and exchanging testimonies on what had happened in candid, unscripted voice note messages, gives a raw remembrance of the tragedy. Fatima Dia, Artist After the Beirut explosion, Lebanese artist Fatima Dia felt frustrated, and deeply saddened by the aftermath of this tragedy on her beautiful city and the lives lost because of it. Needing an outlet to express the way she felt, she picked up her paintbrush and began to paint the city of Beirut as vibrantly as it always has been, overshadowed by the horrific scene of the explosion with white angels floating above to represent those who lost their lives. When the video of the process started gaining attraction, she took her initiative even further, auctioning off her paintings and donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the families affected by the tragedy. Rising Angels View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fatima Dia Art (@fdia_art) Hayat Nazer, Artist Lebanese artist-activist Hayat Nazer is known for her street art piece, The Phoenix. With an impressive CV, having worked with the United Nations, Hayat quit her career to help people through her art. After the devastation of the August 4 explosion, she created a sculpture made from the debris of the explosion, portraying Beirut as a woman with long flowing hair. The sculpture features a damaged clock stuck at 6:08, the moment of the explosion occurred. The Lady Liberty of Lebanon as its been named also features sentimental objects that people volunteered from their demolished houses. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ~ V ~Hayat Nazer (@hayat_nazer_v)
The National
a day ago
- The National
Beirut blast: Survivor Bachir Ramadan's pain, fears and hopes reflect those of many in Lebanon
Five years on from being injured in the Beirut port explosion, the Lebanese musician speaks of the trauma that haunts him
