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Portrait of Shadi Zaqtan

Shadi Zaqtan

Palestinian songwriter, guitarist and composer

Born
1978
Path
Music
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Why Shadi is here

His innovative fusion of the US Deep South blues with Arabic sounds created a new genre of music in the West Bank, known as Palestinian blues. His music reflects the socio-economic situation in Palestine.

Their story

Shadi Zaqtan is a Palestinian songwriter, guitarist, composer and singer. His music draws on blues, Latin American protest song, Sheikh Imam and his family’s musical traditions to explore Palestinian everyday life and political experience.

In pictures

Milestones

The moments that shaped Shadi’s path.

  1. Born in exile and raised across various Arab countries.

  2. Developed his music practice and independent cultural spaces in Ramallah.

  3. Moved to Berlin to explore street music.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Developed a contemporary Palestinian song practice drawing on blues and other protest-song traditions.

  2. Integrated Arabic tones and lyrics into traditional blues rhythms.

  3. His music highlights the Palestinian socio-economic situation.

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  4. Influenced by and feels a connection to indigenous groups and their music.

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