DAMASCUS — This past week, a vibrant concert in Damascus drew enthusiastic cheers as Wasfi Maasarani, a celebrated artist and emblem of the Syrian rebellion, took the stage to commemorate what was referred to as “Syria’s victory.” The event, held on Wednesday, marked Maasarani’s much-anticipated return to his homeland after spending 13 years in exile.
Having resided in Los Angeles, Maasarani continued to champion the cause of Syria’s uprising from abroad, undertaking tours across the United States and Europe to share his music. The concert, coordinated by the Molham Volunteering Team—a humanitarian organization established by Syrian students—coincided with the one-month anniversary of a recent uprising that ousted former President Bashar Assad.
Music from revolutionary figures like Maasarani and Abdelbasset Sarout, a Syrian singer and activist who passed away in 2019, served a crucial purpose in uniting Syrians during the prolonged uprising-turned-civil war that began in 2011. Many dissenters against Assad’s regime, including Maasarani, had fled Syria, uncertain about their chances of ever returning.
As the concert unfolded in a dimly lit hall, audience members lit their phones, creating a starry ambiance while they harmonized with the music, some overwhelmed with emotion and dabbing away tears. The atmosphere was electrified with cheers, whistles, and the waving of the new Syrian flag, embellished with three stars. A prominent banner boldly proclaimed, “It is Syria the Great, not Syria the Assad.”
One of Maasarani’s signature pieces is “Jabeenak ’Ali w Ma Bintal,” which he originally performed in 2012, extending his support to the Free Syrian Army—a collective of defected military personnel and civilian fighters formed in 2011 to oppose Assad during the civil conflict. The song embodies themes of bravery and defiance against tyranny, calling for the protection of the people and the revolutionaries.
Another banner held by attendees declared, “It is the revolution of the people and the people never fail.” During interludes in the performance, Raed Saleh, leader of the White Helmets, a civil defense organization, addressed the audience, reminding them, “With this victory, we should not forget the families who are still searching for their loved ones missing in prisons and detention centers.”
The regime of Assad has been responsible for the torture and disappearance of thousands, and following his potential downfall, the White Helmets have been instrumental in seeking out the missing. Following his performance, Maasarani expressed to reporters that returning to Syria felt surreal and like a dream, reflecting on the emotional weight of performing his revolutionary anthems after so many years away.
“We always sang them outside of Syria, sharing in the joy and sorrow from afar,” he noted, articulating his mission to document the brutal realities on the ground through his art, ensuring these stories would remain part of history. The singer also reminisced about the trauma of surviving two assassination attempts before leaving Syria.
Attendee Alaa Maham, who recently returned from the United Arab Emirates, voiced the significance of witnessing a state without Assad from his birth. He expressed his sentiment, stating, “I cannot describe my feelings; I hope our happiness continues.”
Despite the celebratory mood, the future of Syria remains uncertain as Islamist factions, particularly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, begin to establish a new government and undertake the rebuilding of the nation’s institutions. However, Maham expressed a sense of hope, saying, “We have liberated ourselves from the oppression and corruption associated with the fall of Assad and his family’s reign.”
