Damascus, Oct. 1 (SANA) Songs and anthems of the Syrian revolution filled a Damascus stage on Wednesday evening as Syrian artists and members of the public gathered for a cultural event celebrating the country’s revolutionary musical heritage.
The event, titled “Al-Sham Brings Us Together,” was held at the open-air theater of the Dummar Cultural Complex and featured singers Ahmad al-Qasim and Samir Aktaa.
Hosted by actor Nawar Bulbul and supervised by Ibrahim al-Samadi, the evening drew officials, artists and members of the public, including several Syrian drama stars.
Songs from the revolution
Aktaa opened his performance on the oud with “The Sun Will Rise, Even After a While, and My Country Will Be Free of Passersby,” a song he performed during the Syrian revolution.
He later performed “Syria, You Have Endured So Much; Congratulations, Mother, on Liberation” and “The Finest Poems Cannot Convey My Suffering,” with lyrics by Syrian Culture Minister Mohammad Yassin al-Saleh.
Aktaa closed with “With Love, We Will Rebuild It,” one of his best-known songs. He said its message was that love among Syrians is the path to rebuilding the country and restoring prosperity.
Al-Qasim, accompanied by the Daraa Folk Arts Troupe, performed music inspired by the folklore of Hauran and southern Syria, with songs celebrating Syria and Syrian dignity.
The evening also featured songs by Abdul Baset al-Sarout, a prominent singer of the Syrian revolution who was martyred during the conflict.
Brig. Gen. Maher al-Naimi, one of the founders of the Free Syrian Army, addressed the gathering, stressing the unity of the Syrian people and describing them as a single social fabric that cannot be divided.
Preserving the revolution’s musical memory
Aktaa told SANA that the program drew on the musical archive of the Syrian revolution and was intended to keep its songs alive in the country’s collective memory and introduce them to new generations.
He said performing the songs after liberation gave them greater emotional depth, bringing together memories of the revolution, the sacrifices made by Syrians and their resilience.
Aktaa said cultural events of this kind were important to ensure that national songs remained present in the public consciousness.
More cultural events planned
Event coordinator Ibrahim al-Samadi told SANA that the evening brought together different segments of Syrian society and featured artists whose work was rooted in Syrian heritage.
He said organizers were preparing further cultural activities, including the heritage production “Stone and Dignity” at the Bosra amphitheater, a three-day program at Damascus Citadel and winter performances at al-Fayhaa Hall.
The event was part of efforts to preserve the artistic legacy associated with the Syrian revolution and revive songs that became closely linked to its public demonstrations and squares.
N.J/ABD
