'From Gaza With Love': Palestinian Saint Levant rouses Coachella

Saint Levant, the rapper of Palestinian-French-Algerian-Serbian descent, gained online fame and made his debut at Coachella over the weekend. Despite a schedule clash with the highly anticipated No Doubt reunion, the 23-year-old artist attracted a large audience at Coachella's Gobi Tent, where he performed his popular songs as well as new material. Many of his fans showed their support by wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags.

One festival-goer, Mustafa Arch, a 32-year-old Syrian-Lebanese, expressed his enthusiasm for Saint Levant's performance, stating that despite other conflicting acts, they were determined to attend the rapper's set. Arch also emphasized their support for Palestine and their happiness to be present, considering it the highlight of the weekend.

During his performance, Saint Levant addressed the crowd, introducing himself as someone who was born in Jerusalem and raised in Gaza. He highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by the people of Gaza, describing it as a brutal genocide and referring to the occupation of Palestine over the past 75 years. He emphasized that his presence on stage represented not only himself but the entire Arab world.

Saint Levant, whose real name is Marwan Abdelhamid, spent a significant part of his childhood in Gaza. In 2007, he and his family fled to Jordan and later relocated to California, where he is currently based in Los Angeles. His songs, such as "Very Few Friends" and "From Gaza With Love," gained viral popularity, and he performed new tracks like "Deira" and "5am in Paris" during his Coachella set.

The artist described his music as a reflection of the experience of exile, a feeling familiar to Palestinians. He also mentioned his upcoming project titled "Deira," named after a hotel built by his father that was recently bombed.

After Saint Levant's performance, Yara Brenton, a 43-year-old attendee, expressed her admiration for seeing a Palestinian artist on stage. She recalled how, in the past, there was no representation for Palestinians at popular events like Coachella. Brenton emphasized the significance of Saint Levant openly advocating for the Palestinian cause during his performance, noting that it wouldn't have been accepted a few years ago. She also acknowledged the growing awareness about Palestine and believed that this awareness would continue to progress without regression.