Ziad Rahbani obituary: Remembering the Lebanese composer, satirist and pioneer of 'Oriental jazz'

Last week, Lebanon bid farewell to legendary Lebanese icon Ziad Rahbani, who passed away at the age of 69 following a heart attack.

Widely remembered as a composer, pianist, playwright and political commentator, Ziad was the son of Fairuz, the iconic vocalist and one of the most celebrated singers in the Arab world, and Assi Rahbani, one-half of the Rahbani Brothers, who was also a playwright, pianist and political critic. Ziad's siblings are the late Layal Rahbani, Rima Rahbani, and Hali Rahbani.

In tribute to the late legend, condolences have poured in from around the world as well as from Lebanon’s cultural and political circles.

Among them was Lebanese pop star Elissa, who wrote on X: “Ziad Rahbani was no ordinary artist and certainly no ordinary person. His musical and artistic genius is one of a kind, never to be repeated. With his loss, Lebanon has lost a part of itself, and a large piece of its collective memory. Fairuz, our ambassador to the whole world, is first and foremost Ziad’s mother today. May God grant her strength and patience.”

As for Lebanese journalist and filmmaker Jad Ghosn, who directed a 2021 documentary about Ziad, he described the composer as “a middle finger raised in the face of this system, reminding it of its true worth and reminding us of our potential.”

Political leaders also honoured Ziad’s legacy. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam awarded him the Order of the Cedar, at the rank of Commander, on behalf of President Joseph Aoun.

“It is an honour to present this medal to his family today,” Nawaf said on 28 July.

Reflecting on Ziad’s influence, Nawaf added, “Ziad Rahbani, a brilliant creator, you were the honest voice of our generation, committed to human and national causes. You dared to say what many of us did not dare to express. You will forever remain the voice of beauty, resistance, justice, and truth.”

As Lebanon and the rest of the world continue to mourn his loss, The New Arab looks back on Ziad’s life and legacy, from his early beginnings to the key milestones that defined his career.

Growing up in Antelias

Ziad was born in 1956 and grew up in Antelias, a coastal town north of Beirut. His early interest in music came from his father, who often played the piano at home, inspiring Ziad to start composing at the age of seven.

By the time he was 12, Ziad had published a collection of poetry, and at 18, he wrote and staged his first play, Nazl el-Sourour.

As many will know, Ziad’s parents composed music rooted in Lebanese folk traditions, and early on, Ziad’s own work began to draw inspiration from these sources.

Influenced by the country’s villages, historic stone buildings, and the return of Lebanese expatriates, this style of music played a key role in Beirut’s cultural scene during the 1960s, when the city was referred to as the 'Paris of the Middle East'.

Just before Ziad turned 20, Lebanon entered a civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990. During this time, his music grew more critical, often using satire and expressing sorrow about the country’s situation.

A love for his mother

Despite what those close to him describe as a period of depression in his later years, Ziad played a key role in transforming his mother Fairuz’s musical style.

His father Assi and uncle Mansour regularly composed and arranged music for Fairuz, and following their example, Ziad modernised his mother’s music while developing his own unique sound by mixing traditional Arab musical styles like tafrid and taqsim with the more flexible styles of Western jazz and blues.

This influence can be heard in albums such as Wahdon (1979) and Maarifti Feek (1987), where Fairuz moved away from the usual folk themes of the Rahbani Brothers and embraced "darker ballads and jazzy torch songs."

Ziad’s style, which blended Western music with Arabic quarter tones, earned him the title of pioneer of ‘Oriental jazz’. His 1978 album, Abu Ali, showcases this one-of-a-kind mix of Arabic funk and jazz.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in 1988, Ziad said, “Just as automobiles replaced donkeys, traditional music must develop to reflect the times. Everything has to evolve.”

A voice of Lebanon's wounds 

Beyond music, Ziad used theatre and film to express his satirical views, often mocking Lebanon’s sectarian divisions. His songs in plays like Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? (1978), Shi Fashel (1983), and Bikhsous el Karameh (1993) were closely linked to political commentary.

That said, although Ziad held strong political views that did not always align with his Greek Orthodox Christian background, he remained a committed supporter of Palestinian rights and statehood, especially after bearing witness to the 1976 massacre at the Tal al-Zaatar refugee camp.

Top 10 iconic hits

For those new to Ziad, The New Arab recommends these 10 essential songs to honour his musical legacy:

Abu Ali

Bala Wala Shi

Ya Zaman El Ta’efiyeh

Ana Moush Kafer

Bema Enno

Aayesh Wahdah Balak

Wallaat Ktir

El Hali Taabani

Sa’alouni El Nas

Prelude (Theme from Mais al-Rim)

Zainab Mehdi is The New Arab's Associate Editor and researcher specialising in governance, development, and conflict in the Middle East and North Africa region

Follow her on Instagram: @zaiamehdi_/@zainabmehdiwrites_