The Aramaic roots are flourishing in Jbeil and Batroun

For long time, Jbeil and Batroun have been associated with Arabic civilization. Despite the politicians and the media propagating for Arabism the Aramaic face of the town is since a few years once again getting more and more visible.  

The first Aramaic Music Festival in Lebanon was held in Tannourine, Batroun in the summer of 2008. That brought a new life to our history and culture. Many people enjoyed it and felt that it was a gift from above. Many participants singing Aramaic and dancing to Aramaic music were locals from the Tannourine village and surrounding.

In Jbeil there has also been a reawaken for the Aramaic heritage of Lebanon. More and more priests are including more Aramaic Syriac language in the Sunday mass, such as father Hanna Jiha of the main church of the town, St. Johannes of Antioch. Choirs are also choosing to mix their Arabic hymns with Aramaic/Syriac.

A well known choir using more of our old historic language is the choir of father Miled Tarabay. It is called the ´´ Kolo atiko´´ and means ´´ the old voice´´.

He has renewed an old building in Jbeil and is using it now for their daily practices. The Choir has members from all ages and singers coming from other regions than Jbeil.  

These are spontaneous steps taken from different individuals so that we one day can have all our work institutionalized under our free Lebanese state.