Lebanon’s Kahlil Gibran: The voice that united the East and the West

Almost a century after the publication of ‘The Prophet,’ Kahlil Gibran’s popularity continues to soar from generation to generation. (Getty Images) 
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Updated 27 October 2022
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Lebanon’s Kahlil Gibran: The voice that united the East and the West

  • For this week’s edition of our series on Arab icons, we profile the late Lebanese American artist Kahlil Gibran
  • The writer of ‘The Prophet’ continues to strike a chord with audiences across the world more than 90 years after his death

DUBAI: As a writer and painter who was equally accomplished in both disciplines, Kahlil Gibran is undoubtedly one of Middle East’s greatest cultural exports. The Lebanese-American artist, author and philosopher is best known for his 1923 book of prose poetry “The Prophet,” a book of 26 prose poetry fables written in English.

And while his work in English proved popular among the masses, the critical response, at the time, was less forgiving, perhaps because many of those critics didn’t yet have the tools to fairly judge a writer with strong Eastern influences.

Almost a century after the publication of “The Prophet,” however, Gibran’s popularity continues to soar from generation to generation.

“Gibran was the voice of the East that finally made it to the West and found that the West was hungry for spirituality,” Glen Kalem-Habib, a Lebanese-Australian filmmaker and research historian, and founder of the Kahlil Gibran Collective, tells Arab News. “Just take a look at the time period that he was around. There were a lot of great thinkers, poets, writers and artists and they all congregated in New York. So it was a great melting pot and Gibran had his finger on the on the pulse. He knew something great was coming; there was this industrialized nation that was being born and all this new technology coming out, there were such great innovations and thinking. So I think Gibran was kind of saying, ‘All these great technologies are going to help people. I’m going to write a book that helps people as well.’ And he did this by using his voice from the East that was Arabic in thought and process, because he was part of this incredible history of an area that dates back aeons. He was aware of that and he was in tune with that, whether it was the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ right through to the Bible and the Qur’an. It all happened in his backyard.”

Gibran was born in 1883 in the village of Bsharri near Mount Lebanon to Khalil Sa’ad Gibran and Kamila Rahmeh, both Maronite Christians. While his mother encouraged his sensitive and artistic nature (she famously gifted him a book featuring artwork by Michelangelo, which spurred in him a lifelong love for the artist and art in general), his father was a more sporadic presence.

After years of poverty and uncertainty, Kamila packed up her four children and moved to Boston to live with her relatives, leaving Gibran’s father behind in Lebanon. Kamila and the kids settled in Boston’s South End, at the time the second-largest Syrian-Lebanese-American community in the US.

Gibran, almost a teenager at the time, went to the Josiah Quincy School, where teachers soon noticed his artistic ability and he was soon also enrolled into the nearby art school, Denison House, where he was introduced to the avant-garde Boston artist F. Holland Day.

Gibran flourished. He quickly absorbed the works of Shakespeare, William Blake, W.B. Yeats and T.S. Eliot. “He was looking to make his mark. He was someone who lived a very sheltered life. Bsharri was so far removed, even from Beirut. So imagine, you know, 100-plus years ago, there wasn’t much (there) you could read, right? I’m pretty sure that it was very limited. So, one of the early impactful books he read was ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’ by Nietzsche. He was also inspired by Wagner’s music. His first published book was a treatise on Arabic music inspired by Wagner,” says Kalem-Habib.

Gibran was also heavily influenced by Arab literature and art, including “One Thousand and One Nights” and the ancient epic “Layla and Majnun.”

“He was sort of fusing all of these influences into (something) no one ever did before. And he really, really nailed it,” Kalem-Habib says.




A still from the 2014 animated movie 'Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet.' (GKIDS)

Gibran continues to find new audiences. In 2014, Mexican actress Salma Hayek — whose father is of Lebanese descent — produced an animated film adapting Gibran’s work, titled “Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet.”

While Hayek’s first exposure to Gibran was through her late Lebanese grandfather, she rediscovered the book years later as a college student, an experience that she told Entertainment Weekly “was very meaningful to me, because I felt like my grandfather was teaching me about life even though he was gone.”

Discussing the film, Hayek said, “I think it’s important that people remember there’s an Arab-American writer that wrote a book that has touched so many people. It’s sold more than 120 million copies around the world and it has influenced the lives of people of all religions and creeds, ages, colors, and backgrounds. And I think that’s relevant today. I also think it’s important that we are exposed to material that reminds us of the beauty of our humanity.”

A less high-profile but equally important adaptation came in the form of the stage musical “Broken Wings,” adapted from Gibran’s 1912 autobiographical novel.

Written by Lebanese-English West End star Nadim Naaman and Qatari composer Dana Al-Fardan, the musical is a love letter to Gibran and the Middle East. 

“Dana and I were introduced by mutual friends back in 2016. She was in London for a concert of her own and I was performing in ‘The Phantom of The Opera’ at the time. We discovered that we both wanted to write a musical of Middle Eastern heritage which would shine a positive light on the region. Kahlil Gibran immediately stood out as an iconic Middle Eastern figure who has transcended borders and is revered in the Middle East, Europe and America,” Naaman explains. “He became a perfect focus for us: to pay tribute to him and Lebanon and also to introduce him to a wider audience and celebrate his contribution to the literary world.

“Gibran has always resonated strongly with me. His books were scattered throughout my family home as a child, his words recited at weddings, at funerals and graduations. Furthermore, as a man of Lebanese heritage who has spent his life in the West, I relate strongly to the fact that Gibran, and many other Lebanese, have spent more of their lives outside of the country than in it. As an actor, musician and writer trying to represent Lebanon internationally, there is no better role model than Gibran,” he adds.

Since it was first published, “The Prophet” has never been out of print. It has been translated into more than 100 languages, making it among the top 10 most translated books in history. Its popularity soared in the 1960s, when American counterculture was on the rise, and later among the New Age movements. 

To celebrate the book’s centenary next year, Kalem-Habib’s collective is organizing several events across the US and possibly Middle East and will unveil a new monument in New York, a city where Gibran spent a considerable amount of time and where he took his last breath in 1931, aged 48.

“Gibran was so ahead of his time. He represents many philosophical and moral ideas that the world continues to strive towards in 2022,” says Naaman. “Here was a Middle Eastern immigrant who found a new home in the West, and was writing one century ago about gender equality and women’s rights, about harmony and tolerance between religions and nationalities, about the corruption of politicians and mistreatment of the working classes, about the ability to build a new home and find belonging if one has to leave one’s own birthplace. Essentially, these all remain mainstream narratives in the global media.”


Primark to open 3 stores in the UAE 

Updated 08 May 2025
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Primark to open 3 stores in the UAE 

DUBAI: Primark is officially making its way to Dubai, marking its debut in the UAE after years of rumors about the popular store’s launch in the country. 
The popular budget retailer is partnering with retail giant Alshaya Group to open three stores in Dubai, as announced by Alshaya Group CEO John Hadden on Virgin Radio Dubai’s Kris Fade Show. 
Set to launch in early 2026, the stores will be located at Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Mirdif.
“Price is the same. We’re going to do jeans at a starting price of AED 50 and a basic t-shirt will be AED 15,” Hadden said on the show. “I’m so excited I can’t sustain it. It’s just brilliant.”
Primark’s regional debut is set for The Avenues Mall in Kuwait, with the store expected to open by late 2025. Following that, the brand will expand to Dubai as its next stop in the Middle East.
Primark began 55 years ago in Dublin, Ireland, where it originally opened under the name Penneys. Since then, it has grown to operate 450 stores worldwide.
With a presence in 15 European countries and 16 locations in the United States, the brand offers a wide range of products including clothing for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics, home goods and accessories.


Diwan Kitchen brings Saudi soul to North London

Updated 08 May 2025
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Diwan Kitchen brings Saudi soul to North London

  • The UK capital’s latest Saudi restaurant drew the crowds for its opening night

LONDON: North London just got a little warmer. On May 1, at 510 Holloway Rd, the heart of the Kingdom found a new home in the UK capital. With oud music drifting through the air and the scent of spiced lamb and simmering wheat pulling people in from the street, Diwan Kitchen opened its doors to the public.

The new Saudi restaurant isn't just serving food. It’s telling stories.

The interiors are a soft, glowing tribute to the Kingdom’s past. From carved wood panels evoking the mudbrick homes of Najd, to vibrant fabrics and lanterns echoing the coastal souqs of Hijaz, every corner of Diwan Kitchen feels like a page from a living history book.

Guests on the restaurant's opening night. (AN Photo)

Those traditional mudbrick homes of Najd, designed to keep cool in scorching summers and warm in desert winters, weren’t just shelters; they were social spaces, built around courtyards, where family, memory, and hospitality were the foundation of daily life.

“We wanted to show people what traditional Saudi dining is like” Adem Nasraddin, co-founder of the restaurant, told Arab News. “There’s a rhythm to Saudi life. A scent, a pace, a flavor. We bottled that feeling and served it on a plate.”

And what a plate it is. The tasting menu is a culinary journey across the Kingdom. You can start in Hijaz, with motabag — pan-fried pastries that are light and crisp and deeply comforting. Whether filled with spiced vegetables, gooey cheese, or minced beef, each bite transports you to a Jeddah street corner at sunset.

There’s foul medammas, a creamy mash of fava beans seasoned the Hijazi way: with garlic, lemon, and cumin. And tamees bread; hot and soft, made for tearing and sharing — just as it should be.

The restaurant serves authentic Saudi cuisine. (AN Photo)

The main courses venture into the windswept heartlands of Najd, with jareesh, a dish made from crushed wheat, simmered with tomatoes and onion, that tastes like something a Bedouin grandmother would proudly serve you under an open sky. Alongside it is marqooq, a rich, flat-dough stew that has nourished generations through long desert nights.

Of course, no Saudi table would be complete without rice. Diners can choose between kabsa — the fragrant national treasure of the central regions — and mandi, with its delicate smoke, hailing from the misty mountains of Asir and the southern valleys.

Then comes saleeg, a creamy rice dish from Taif, cooked in milk and broth and topped with tender chicken. It's the kind of meal that slows you down, insisting you stay a little longer.

“My experience has been that it’s completely authentic,” one Saudi guest, Fahad Habib, told Arab News. “It feels like I’m back home.”

Beyond the menu, Diwan Kitchen is a space built on memory and modernity. Saudi music played at the launch, and as guests chatted over cardamom coffee and dates, the atmosphere was part-family gathering, part-culinary pilgrimage.

The opening night drew a mixed crowd — Saudis living in London, curious neighbors from Holloway Road, and food lovers eager to explore a cuisine that’s still underrepresented in the UK. For many, it was more than just a meal; it was a chance to connect with a culture through flavor, memory, and setting.


Best and Worst: Saudi presenter Ftoon Marwan talks family, freedom and fashion

Updated 08 May 2025
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Best and Worst: Saudi presenter Ftoon Marwan talks family, freedom and fashion

DUBAI: The Saudi presenter and content creator discusses fashion and how family and freedom have influenced her journey. 

Best TV show or film you’ve ever seen?    

The best TV show? “The Walking Dead.” I’ve watched it more than six times. I’m crazy about this show. I’ve been watching it since I was little kid. For movies, I like “Life or Something Like It” with Angelina Jolie. I’ve also been watching it since I was a child. The story of the movie is very nice.  

Worst TV show or film you’ve ever seen?   

“It.” I hate that movie. I don’t understand, are they trying to make kids scared of clowns? They’re already afraid of them. To me the idea is stupid.  

Best personal style moment so far?    

My mom actually does all of my styling. I could get a stylist, but my mom is honestly the best. I like all the outfits she chooses for me. At one event I was emceeing I was wearing a fuchsia dress. It was so bright. I was shining among everyone. I love this outfit!  

Worst personal style moment?    

I don’t have a worst style moment to be honest. There’s a saying in Arabic that means “There is a right moment for everything.” I don’t judge my style that harshly.  

Best accessory for a little black dress?    

A gold belt with simple gold earrings and accessories. All gold. Simple, simple, simple. For heels, it has to be gold. I have gold heels that I love so much. They work with everything!  

Worst accessory for a little black dress?  

Everything matches black. So, I do not think there is a worst accessory. It’s the king of colors.  

Best fashion trend of 2025?    

Statement accessories like bold bags and chunky jewelry. I like when they are out there and obvious, but the outfit itself has to be simple. Accessories give life to the outfit, you know?   

Worst fashion trend of 2025?    

Tiny bags, who wears them anymore? I can’t put anything inside them! It’s a stupid idea.  

Best advice you’ve ever been given?   

Focus on your health, family, money and work. I’d say focus especially on your family. Your mother and father brought you into this world with the hope of raising a child they could be proud of and honored by in front of others. My parents dedicated their entire lives to raising us to become the best versions of ourselves.   

Worst advice you’ve ever been given? 

“Get married early so we can see your kids.” Someone once proposed to me and said that. Thankfully my family said no. I truly appreciated it. They said no to make me free to do whatever I want whenever I want. 

Best thing to do when you’re feeling low?    

When I go to the beach, I swear I am the happiest creature in the world. Also, when I was a little kid, I used to tell my parents to take me ice skating whenever I felt low. This habit stuck with me until now. It gave me really good balance.  

Worst thing to do when you’re feeling good?    

Oversharing my feelings and my money. I’ll go spend my money on my friends and family. My mom keeps telling me: “Stop, you’ll need this money someday.” But I always tell her what goes comes around in double. That’s my motto.   

Best holiday destination?    

Dubai. I really love it. I lived most of my childhood there. I also like Germany. I went there in 2013 with my whole family. It was so nice. Honestly, I remember every moment of it. 

Worst holiday destination?   

I’ve never been to Egypt, but my family were saying they didn’t like it because of the situations they they’ve been in there. 

Best subject at school?  

I used to enjoy history, archaeology and science. Then in college, I did archaeology and tourism. It was meant to be. It was so me.  

Worst subject at school?   

Math, math, math. I remember a lot of Ds and one F.  


Summer’s hottest box-office hits 

Updated 08 May 2025
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Summer’s hottest box-office hits 

DUBAI: From super-fast cars to superhero stars, some of the blockbusters due in the next few months 

‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’ 

Director: Christopher McQuarrie 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames 

Ethan Hawke is back in this direct sequel to 2023’s “Dead Reckoning — Part One.” It continues the story of Hawke and his crew’s battle against the Entity — a rogue AI capable of controlling Earth’s defense and financial networks. After the relatively poor box-office performance of “Dead Reckoning,” this needs to be a big hit, or else it really might — as the name implies but as no one yet believes — be the final outing for Cruise in one of the most iconic action roles in cinema history. Due out May 22. 

‘Lilo & Stitch’ 

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp 

Starring: Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Zach Galifianakis 

Live-action remake of Disney’s 2002 animation about a young orphan girl (Lilo) who befriends Stitch, a dog-like alien who, unbeknownst to Lilo, is genetically engineered to be a destructive force. Lilo hopes that Stitch can help with the troubles she is having with child protective services, who are threatening to separate her from her older sister Nani. But if he’s going to do that, then together they will have to keep him safe from the aliens hunting for him. Chris Sanders, writer and director of the original movie, returns as the voice of Stitch. Due out May 22. 

‘The Phoenician Scheme’ 

Director: Wes Anderson 

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera 

This new feature from one of the world’s most singular filmmakers is a darkly humorous thriller in which wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda decides to make his somewhat estranged daughter Liesl (a nun, and the only female among Korda’s 10 children) the sole heir to his fortune after surviving the latest in several attempts on his life. That fortune depends greatly on the success of a land-expansion project he’s been planning for years. The two of them team up with Korda’s Norwegian tutor Bjorn to complete the project at great risk to themselves. Due out May 29. 

‘F1’ 

Director: Joseph Kosinski 

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon 

Sports drama whose makers have trumpeted the realism granted by its collaboration with the governing body of the F1 World Championship. Pitt plays Sonny Hayes, a former F1 driver who retired following a horrific crash in the Nineties. His friend — and F1 team owner — Ruben Cervantes persuades him to come out of retirement in order to mentor the team’s rookie prodigy Joshua Pearce. Due out June 26. 

‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ 

Director: Gareth Edwards 

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey 

Sequel to 2022’s “Jurassic World Dominion,” set five years on from the events of that film. Few dinosaurs have managed to survive. The ones that have are generally to be found in remote tropical areas. Covert operative Zora Bennett is hired by a pharmaceutical company to accompany its team on a secret mission to acquire the DNA of the largest remaining prehistoric species from land, sea and air respectively, which the company claims holds the key to a miracle drug that will save billions of lives. Due out July 3 

‘Superman’ 

Director: James Gunn 

Starring: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult 

As DC looks to launch its own cinematic universe to rival Marvel’s, it makes sense it would begin with a reboot of the Superman franchise. The eponymous hero, who spends his non-Superman time as mild-mannered journalist Clark Kent, has been described by producer Peter Safran as “the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way.” The movie apparently finds Superman attempting to reconcile his alien heritage with his adoptive human family. Due out July 11. 

‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ 

Director: Matt Shakman 

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach 

Marvel Studios are hoping it’s third time lucky for The Fantastic Four, this being the second reboot of the series. It’s also the opening of Phase Six(!) of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is set in a Sixties-inspired parallel Earth, which the eponymous team of heroes — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic; his wife Sue Storm/Invisible Woman; her brother Johnny Storm/Human Torch; and Reed’s best friend Ben Grimm/The Thing — must protect from the planet-devouring being Galactus. Due out July 25. 

 

 

 

 


Four songs to stream before Guns ‘N Roses hits the stage in Riyadh

Updated 08 May 2025
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Four songs to stream before Guns ‘N Roses hits the stage in Riyadh

DUBAI: As legendary US rock band Guns 'N Roses prepares to take to the stage at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on May 23 to kick off their 2025 world tour, we’ve rounded up four of their hits to stream before the show.

The Kingdom Arena gig will be the first show of a 24-gig tour. The iconic band will also play in Bahrain at Beyon Al-Dana Amphitheater on May 20, 2025, and in Abu Dhabi at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, on May 27, 2025.

‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ (1990)

This ballad has all the wonder of the Bob Dylan original, with epic Guns ‘N Roses flair to boot.

‘Paradise City’ (1987)

With one of the most recognizable choruses in rock history, fans can expect to belt “Take me down to the paradise city, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty” at the Riyadh concert on May 23.

‘November Rain’ (1991)

The epic ballad came with an equally emotional music video.

‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ (1987)

No Guns 'N Roses tracklist would be complete without this anthem, a favorite of air guitar afficionados everywhere.