“Ahla 2u Sahla simply translates to ’welcome’ in Arabic. We say it when people come into our home. As a second-generation Lebanese residing in Australia, the importance of hospitality and welcoming people into the home was a central familial and cultural value that greatly informed my early years; and the simple act of welcoming underpins my work as a creative.

The Lebanese Civil War ended in 1990, however Lebanon has not rested. From political corruption to small wars continuing, it seems as though Lebanon does not know peace. In 2019, the revolution began due to an economic crisis and in 2020 the pandemic has forced the people back into their homes.

A form of protest during the revolution in 2019/2020 was a DJ playing off a balcony in Tripoli, demonstrating the importance of music in Lebanese culture. This work is a brief tribute to a rich musical history in the Middle East – not only Lebanon, as we listen to music from neighbouring countries including Egypt and Syria. Considering Arabic music is constantly sampled, borrowed and sometimes stolen by those from the West – and next door, it was imperative that this work represents where the music has come from and where it is taking us…”