In an era where merely identifying as Palestinian carries political weight, Elyanna, a Palestinian-Chilean vocalist, is leveraging creativity to celebrate her heritage. Originally from Nazareth, she ventured to the United States in 2017 to pursue her musical aspirations.
Despite exclusively singing in Arabic, the 22-year-old artist has achieved remarkable success by embracing her cultural identity and expressing her profound affection for her community.
Endearingly referred to as the “Queen of the Diaspora,” she made history as the inaugural performer to deliver a fully Arabic set at the prestigious Coachella music festival last year.
Recently, she reached another significant milestone by completely selling out her inaugural tour spanning the United States and Canada. Initially scheduled for November, she opted to postpone the tour “out of respect for the Palestinian people.”
For Elyanna’s fans, her authenticity is the most important thing. Speaking to TRT World, Jinaan Deena, a Palestinian American activist and chef, said Elyanna’s music serves as a reminder that Palestinians are proud and dignified people.
She added, “We’re not just victims or perpetrators of violence like the media says. We have this entire beautiful culture that encompasses music clothing and food. And being able to celebrate and enjoy who we are as Palestinians is also a part of our resilience.
“And I think specifically for Elyanna, what that does is also it just brings together a community specifically in this time of need right now when we’re all in the diaspora feeling so alone and disconnected. I think (her shows are) sold out specifically because so many people in this country right now want to feel that comfort of what Palestine means to us.”
After a recent concert, Elyanna sat down with TRT World to talk about her tour, the Arab/Palestinian diaspora, and her undying love for her homeland. Courtesy: TRT.com
