Ziad Rahbani

Ziad Rahbani (; 1 January 1956 – 26 July 2025) was a Lebanese composer, musician, playwright and political commentator. He was the son of Lebanese singer Fairuz and Lebanese composer Assi Rahbani. Many of his musicals satirize Lebanese Sectarian politics both during and after the Lebanese Civil War, and are often critical of the traditional political establishment. He was considered one of the most influential artists in modern Lebanese history, remembered for his wit, creativity, and refusal to conform.

Background

Ziad Rahbani was the son of the Lebanese composer Assi Rahbani and Lebanese singer Fairuz.

Rahbani was married to Dalal Karam, with whom he had a boy named "Assi" but he was later found out not to be his biological son. Their relationship later ended in divorce, prompting Karam to write a series of articles for the gossip magazine Ashabaka about their marriage. Rahbani composed a number of songs about their relationship, including "Marba el Dalal" and "Bisaraha".

Rahbani had a long-standing relationship with Lebanese leftist movements, and was a self-declared communist, being a lifelong affiliate with the Lebanese Communist Party. Furthermore, in an interview with the journalist Ghassan Bin-Jiddu, Rahbani stated that the bloodbath massacres in the Palestinian camp Tall a-Za’tar by extreme-rightist Christian militias in 1976 was the main reason that drove him to leave to West Beirut. Notwithstanding, he also expressed his support to the Lebanese resistance and its project in the face of "the Israeli occupation and its Zionist Apartheid regime". Coming from a Christian family, his politics and viewpoints were very radical when compared to his right-wing teenage surroundings. Rahbani was popularly understood to be atheist.

Family tree

Career Rahbani's first artistic work was "Sadiqi Allah" (My Friend God), a collection of writings between the years 1967 and 1968 when he was in his teens which was released without his knowledge by his father Assi Rahbani. In 1973, at age 17, Rahbani composed his first music for Fairuz, his mother. Assi Rahbani, his father, was hospitalized and his mother Fairuz was to play the leading role in Al Mahatta by the Rahbani brothers. Mansour Rahbani, his uncle, who had written the lyrics of a song about Assi Rahbani's forced absence, gave Ziad Rahbani the task of composing its music. The song "Saalouni El Nass" (People Asked Me) gained Rahbani recognition in the music world.

Rahbani appeared for the first time on stage in Al Mahatta where he played the role of the detective. He also appeared later on in the Rahbani Brothers' Mays el Rim in the role of one of the policemen. Rahbani's first step into theatre was with the Bkennaya Theater in Sahriyyeh. He followed that with highly politicized string of plays. "In 'The Harvest of Thorns: Political Comedy Theater in Syria and Lebanon,' Aksam Al-Youssef wrote, "Under these circumstances, as a young adult, Ziad imposed himself on the artistic scene as a playwright, director, composer, pianist, and actor. In a short time, his original theatre would become the center of attention for young people who found in it the voice of a lost generation caught in the throws of war and violence.

As an actor, besides appearing in his own plays, Rahbani starred in Randa Chahal Sabbagh's 2003 film The Kite.

Collaborations Before, during, and after the Lebanese Civil War, Rahbani released and co-released several albums, television programs, radio programs and a children's book consisting of: Bi hal shakel, Abou Ali, Halleluja, Shareet Ghayr Houdoudi, Baadna Taybeen Ullo Allah, Houdou Nesbi, Ana Mouch Kafer, Hakaya al Atfal, Bema Enno, Monodose (with singer Salma Mosfi). and Maaloumat Mush Akidi (with singer Latifa).

Death Rahbani died at a hospital at approximately 9:00 am (UTC 6:00 am) on 26 July 2025, at the age of 69, reportedly of a heart attack. He had been a chain smoker for most of his life. Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé said Rahbani needed a liver transplant but refused to undergo surgery.

On 6 August 2025, the Lebanese Cabinet approved renaming Hafez al-Assad Avenue – which links Beirut to the Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport – to Ziad Rahbani Avenue to honour Rahbani.

Discography

Studio releases

Albums for Fairuz Year Original Title Translation Songwriter(s) Label 1972 Sa'alouni Annass(Song from the musical "Al Mahatta") People Asked Me Mansour RahbaniZiad Rahbani Voix de l'Orient 1987 Maarefti Feek What I Know About You Assi & Mansour RahbaniZiad RahbaniJoseph HarbJoaquin Rodrigo Relax-In 1989 Live at the Royal Festival Hall London Assi & Mansour RahbaniZiad RahbaniSayed Darwish Voix de l'OrientKhalleek bil Bayt "Stay at Home" Ziad Rahbani Assi & Mansour RahbaniZiad RahbaniJoseph HarbRelax-In 1991 Kifak Inta How Are You Ziad RahbaniJoseph Harb Relax-In 1995 Ila Assi (Dedicated) to Assi Assi & Mansour Rahbani Voix de l'Orient 1999 Mesh Kayen Hayek Tkoun You Wasn't Used To Be Like This Ziad RahbaniMohamed MohsenQays Bin Al Malouh Relax-In 2000 Live at Beiteddine Assi & Mansour RahbaniZiad RahbaniSayed DarwishMohamed Younes Alqadi EMI 2002 Wala Kif Les feuilles mortes Ziad RahbaniJacques Prévert & Joseph KosmaJerry Leiber & Mike Stoller Relax-In 2010 Eh Fi Amal Yes There's Hope Assi & Mansour RahbaniZiad Rahbani Fayrouz Productions

Stage and radio Year Original Title Translation Producer Songwriter(s) Vocalists Label Main Tracks 1973 Sahriye EveningZiad Rahbani Ziad Rahbani Joseph SakrMarwan MahfouzGeorgette SayeghVoix de l'Orient Ya Bint Al MaawinDallouni Al Aynayn Al SoudFi Oyoun BtebkiEl Hala Taabana Ya Leila 1974 Nazl el sourour Happiness Hotel Ziad RahbaniFranz LisztGerardo Matos Rodriguez Ziad RahbaniJoseph SakrCarmen LebbosSami Haouat Baatilak Ya Habib Al RouhJayi Maa Al Shaab Al MaskinMashi El Hal 1978 Bennesbeh Labokra Chou What About Tomorrow Ziad RahbaniJoseph SakrSami HaouatNabila Zaitouni Ziad RahbaniJoseph SakrSami HaouatNabila ZeitouniZida Al BostaIsmaa Ya Reda 1980 Film Ameriki Tawil The American Motion PictureZiad Rahbani Ziad RahbaniJoseph SakrSami HaouatMona Maraashli Rajiaa Bi Izn AllahYa Zaman Al Ta'ifiya1985 Shi Feshil Failure Ziad RahbaniJoseph SakrSami HaouatMona Saidun Voice of Beirut Ana Mush Kafer I Am Not an Infidel Ziad RahbaniFarouq Al KoussaStephanie Stephano Relax-In Ana Mush Kafer 1986 Bhal Shakel Oriental Jazz Concert Live At Buc, Irwin Hall Ziad RahbaniFrédéric Chopin, Antonio Carlos JobimThelonious MonkCharlie Parker Aprodisco 1987 El Akl Zineh The Mind Is DecorativeZiad Rahbani Ziad Rahbani Sawt Al Shaab 1992 Lawla Fushat Al Amal If It Weren't For Hope Grace AounToufic KerbajRelax-In 1993 Bi Khsous Al Karameh Wal Shaab Al Anid About Dignity and Stubborn People Carmen Lebbos Tabeh La Shi Tebeh Shi Following Something That's Following Something Ziad RahbaniSalma Mosfi 1996 Al Fasl Al Akher The Last Part Ziad RahbaniAntonio Carlos JobimAstrud Gilberto Ziad RahbaniCarmen LebbosSalma Mosfi Cairo Beirut Audio 2006 W Noss Alf 500 1000/2=500 Ziad RahbaniBaz Luhrmann Bankers Assurance SAL 2008 Live at Damascus Citadel Ziad RahbaniSayed DarwishMohamed Younes Al Kadi Ziad RahbaniBassel DaoudRasha Rizk Art Line

Honours 50x50px Commander of the National Order of the Cedar (, July 28, 2025; posthumously).