‘Bi Nos Aley’ Puts the Bride of Lebanon Back on the Artistic Map

A previous concert in Aley (Aley Municipality)
A previous concert in Aley (Aley Municipality)
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‘Bi Nos Aley’ Puts the Bride of Lebanon Back on the Artistic Map

A previous concert in Aley (Aley Municipality)
A previous concert in Aley (Aley Municipality)

Aley, dubbed the “bride of summer getaways” for its cool climate, draws Lebanese citizens, residents, expats, and tourists, especially from the Arab world.

For many years, it was a seasonal hub for those seeking entertainment and art. Casino Piscine Aley was among the major concert venues in the city hosting Arab stars in the sixties, and it continued to be until the 2000s.

Legendary singers performed there in the sixties and seventies, including Umm Kulthum, Farid Al-Atrash, Abdel Halim Hafez, Warda, and Gulf stars.

In 2000, it hosted its last major concert, with Hani Shaker, George Wassouf, and Kadim Al Sahir taking part. And while this golden era will never be forgotten, the bride of summer getaways is back on the artistic map after three long years of absence.

Child Smile Lebanon and Smile Way sports have joined forces to host the Bi Nos Aley (In the Middle of Aley) music and dance festival. It will be held in Aley Square from September 9 to 11, and is open to all ages.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Child Smile founder Antoinette Karam, who organized the festival, stressed that it is high time for the city of Aley to take back its place on the artistic map after the pandemic and successive crises took it off.

“The need to bring back happiness to this city whose people, like all Lebanese, long for hope and joy, was obvious to us. And so, we decided to organize the festival in cooperation with the Municipality of Aley. It will allow the bride of Lebanon to make a strong comeback after a long period of absence.”

Several music and dance events, as well as entertaining activities, feature in the festival’s program. Commenting on their choice for the guest of honor, Mayez Al Bayaa, Karam said: “We contacted several Lebanese recording artists, and Al Bayaa is a dear guest. His presence will draw many attendees because he has a large audience in the region. The revival of this festival will serve as a prelude for other events in the future.”

Bi Nos Aley also includes dance and folkloric performances, with the Lebanese Dabkeh on the lineup. The festival will also host stars from the Voice Kids and rap bands, Karam added.



Elizabeth Strout, Miranda July are Among Finalists for the Women's Prize for Fiction

Yael Van Der Wouden arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (ΑΡ Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
Yael Van Der Wouden arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (ΑΡ Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
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Elizabeth Strout, Miranda July are Among Finalists for the Women's Prize for Fiction

Yael Van Der Wouden arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (ΑΡ Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
Yael Van Der Wouden arrives at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (ΑΡ Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)

American authors Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among finalists announced Wednesday for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, alongside four debut novelists exploring the search for freedom in different countries and cultures.

Pulitzer Prize winner Strout’s Maine-set mystery novel “Tell Me Everything” and writer'-filmmaker July’s “All Fours,” in which a “semi-famous artist” seeks a new life, are shortlisted for the 30,000 pound ($39,000) prize. It's open to female English-language writers from any country.

The contenders also include Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden’s postwar story “The Safekeep” and German-born poet Aria Aber’s novel “Good Girl,” about a teenager exploring her dual German-Afghan heritage.

Also on the list are Iran-born writer Sanam Mahloudji’s intergenerational family saga “The Persians,” and “Fundamentally” by Britain's Nussaibah Younis, about an academic trying to rehabilitate women caught up with ISIS, The AP news reported.

Author Kit de Waal, who is chairing the panel of judges, said that the six books were “classics of the future” that explored “the importance of human connection.”

“What is surprising and refreshing is to see so much humor, nuance and lightness employed by these novelists to shed light on challenging concepts,” she said.

Previous winners of the fiction prize, founded in 1996, include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones and Barbara Kingsolver.

Last year, award organizers launched a companion Women’s Prize for Nonfiction to help rectify an imbalance in publishing. In 2022, only 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in Britain’s newspapers were by women, and male writers dominated established nonfiction writing prizes.

Winners of both nonfiction and fiction prizes will be announced on June 12 at a ceremony in London.