In a solemn and quiet farewell, Beirut bid goodbye this morning to renowned Lebanese musician and playwright Ziad Rahbani, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 69, leaving behind a rich artistic legacy and decades of bold, socially charged theater and music.
Legendary singer Fairuz led her only son’s funeral, with several Lebanese media outlets reporting that she said her final goodbye to Ziad away from the press and cameras. After the casket was placed in Our Lady of Dormition Church in Bikfaya, she joined him in a private farewell before the body was taken to the garden of her home in the town of Choueir, where she had prepared a personal burial site — not next to his father, the late artist Assi Rahbani, who is buried in Antelias.
The funeral procession began earlier this morning from Khoury Hospital in Beirut’s Hamra district, where thousands of fans and admirers had gathered from the early hours, holding his photos, throwing flowers, and applauding in a powerful farewell. Women ululated from both sides of the street, and the mood was deeply emotional.
The body was then moved to Our Lady of Dormition Church in Bikfaya, where a mass was held, and the family will be receiving condolences today, Monday, and tomorrow, Tuesday, amidst widespread grief in Lebanon’s artistic and cultural circles.
Born on January 1, 1956, Ziad Rahbani came from one of the most iconic artistic families in the Arab world. As the son of Fairuz and the legendary Assi Rahbani (of the Rahbani Brothers), Ziad grew up in a rich creative environment that propelled him into the spotlight. Yet, he quickly established his own identity — one defined by avant-garde music, biting political satire, and an unmatched stage presence.
His works combined elements of Eastern music with Western genres such as jazz and rock, while his bold plays dissected Lebanese and Arab social realities with wit and philosophical depth.
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