On 5 December 2020, we kick started our Celebrating Syria 2020 festival with the Kiwan Family, from their living room! From their cosy living room in London, they performed a selection of modern and traditional songs from the Syrian and Levantine heritage.
Although the four musicians have been performing across the UK since leaving Syria, lockdown did not seem to get in the way between the Kiwan Family and our audience. Father, Osama Kiwan (vocalist and oud player) and mother, Eleen Hilal (vocalist and music and Samah Sufi dance teacher) sang alongside their son, Hatem (vocalist, pianist, violaist, and composer) and their daughter, Hanen (vocalist, percussionist and clarinetist) as they all took us on a journey filled with oriental rhythms and melodies. It was a night to remember!