Palestinian singer begins U.S. leg of North American tour in Albuquerque

Mohammad Assaf is an icon within the Palestinian community, an artist, performer, and a son of Gaza.

The winner of the second season of Arab Idol and creator of the popular song “Ana Dammi Falastini” will perform on Sunday, Sept. 6 at Popejoy Hall on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque.

505OMATIC spoke with Samia Assed, a Palestinian-American human rights activist and community organizer, about the show she helped put together, and what it means to her.

“As a Palestinian mother of nine, a grandmother to seven, everybody knows Assaf’s songs,” Assed said. “We sing them in weddings, we sing them in protests. We do our dabke to his songs. He’s very much a part of our everyday life, and many of our allies will recognize a song and I’m sure would love to know the face behind it and the voice behind it.”

Assaf is a descendant of Palestinians who Israel ethnically cleansed from their lands during the Nakba in 1948.

Assaf’s tour spans the U.S. and Canada starting with Toronto on Friday and Albuquerque on Sunday. Assaf has never before been to New Mexico.

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to HEAL Palestine, a Palestinian-led, U.S. based charity that provides direct humanitarian relief, medical care, educational support, and leadership development for young Palestinians.

The concert will help build community and bring culture, folklore and song that many New Mexicans might find interesting and really enjoy, Assed said.

For Palestinians in New Mexico and their allies who have had to endure watching the genocide, the concert will bring relief, she said.

Those who want to attend can buy tickets at Zahriah Events on Instagram or at unmtickets.com.