Artist Interview: Layal Watfeh
Get to know the Toronto-based Syrian award-winning musician, voice actor, and composer Layal Watfeh
Nizar Qabbani celebrated and honored women in ways Syrian society had never dared before. He once said, “If a man is the sea then a woman is the bridge”. Some of his works incorporated eroticism, and although controversial for its time, he artfully paved the way for such literary works to be recognized as both a natural and liberating concept, receiving overwhelming positivity.
Despite a lot of his work celebrating the holiness of women and his empowering writings, he also wrote many poems lusting over the female body. Such work caused a stir in a conservative society that accused him of immorality and dishonourableness. However, Nizar established himself as an icon loved by many across the Arabic-speaking world, eventually becoming internationally recognized as well.
“The Evil Poem” is one of his most controversial poems which discusses a sexual relationship between two women. It was written from the perspective of one spying on two female lovers. With a lack of awareness, education, and dialogue about gay realities, let alone rights, in Syria, a poetic literary piece discussing a lesbian sexual relationship in the 70s in Syria shattered one of the country’s strictest social norms.
Get to know the Toronto-based Syrian award-winning musician, voice actor, and composer Layal Watfeh
Muhammad Faris, an exceptional and prominent figure in the history of space, is considered the second Arab person to set foot in space. He was born in the city of
These remarkable Syrians in Europe embody resilience, creativity, and activism. Let’s celebrate their contributions and recognize the richness that diversity brings to our shared European tapestry.