Musical Tribute to Mahmoud Darwish: Walid Ben Selim at TivoliVredenburg

On 24 October, Moroccan singer Walid Ben Selim will perform as part of the Arabic Crossroads series, an initiative by Culture Connection in collaboration with various partners. This series provides a platform for artists from North Africa and the Middle East who build cultural bridges and convey a powerful message of solidarity and peace.

On Thursday 24 October, Walid Ben Selim will perform at TivoliVredenburg, where, together with pianist Agathe Di Piro and qanun player Nidhal Jaoua, he will present a musical tribute to Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. The evening will begin with an engaging opening programme featuring Maureen Ghazal, Randa Awad, and the Duniya & Musicaz choir. Before the concert, visitors can enjoy Palestinian delicacies and browse books in the foyer.

Walid Ben Selim, who has previously collaborated with Utrecht-based artists such as DJ DNA and Jaber Fayad, is known for his ability to weave Arabic poetry into a modern urban sound with his band N3rdistan. He also composes music for film and opera.

Mahmoud Darwish is recognised as the most important 20th-century poet of the Middle East. In his final poem, The Diceplayer, he explores themes such as identity and humanity. Walid has transformed this profound text into an impressive composition that he will perform during the concert, moving audiences with his interpretation.