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By Muhammad Elosta.
Tripoli, 8 October 2013:
It has been years since the Castle in Tripoli hosted a musical event – possibly decades. . . .[restrict]But last week, in another sign that Libya is back in the real world ,it was the venue for a fusion of cultures that was a stomping success – clearly enjoyed by all who attended.
The event – a multicultural tour de force of sound – was put together by the Ministry of Culture and the German Embassy. Berlin-based jazz trio 105 Lenz Kubach Johnson played alongside Tripoli’s own singer and songwriter Hani Elkot. Their combined efforts provided an evening of enjoyment for all the guests present that few will quickly forget.
The night demonstrated the musical fusion skills of Hani Elkot who showed off his extensive vocal range and the grunge rock vibe that he instills into his music. He performed alongside the main act, 105 Lenz Kubach Johnson, which produced stunning instrumental sounds that engaged the crowd.
“The performance was breathtaking to see,” said one enthusiastic member of the audience. “I never thought I would see so much passion encompassed into a live music show”. The other guests at the event were enthralled by the performance and the interaction between both Libyan and German entertainers.
The concert was to mark German Unity Day which commemorates the reunification of East and West Berlin in 1990.
The German ambassador Christian Much noted the similarities in Germany’s and Libya’s epxperiences, both having been oppressed through their own dictatorships and both having been through regime change and political strife. “Revolution”, he said “is not to just free one’s self from dictatorship but also to liberate one’s mind. I hope that Libya will be filled with culture.”
He also explained how music had played a part in Germany’s reborn freedom. Three days after the Berlin Wall came down on 9 November 1989, musicians from all the country had played in front of what was left of it.
Picking up on the link between revolution and art, the Minister of Culture, Habib Al-Amin, laid stress on the fact that “Libya has faced 42 years of intense dictatorship that eradicated anything that you can call culture. And now that this dictatorship has been abolished, the people of Libya are free to spread their wings and learn about other cultures”.
The Minister also noted that “the venue of the Castle encapsuates Libyan history. Having German and Libyan performers playing together shows that Libya is always open to having different cultures perform in some of its most famous monuments”. [/restrict]
