25 August 2008

ZOUK MIKAEL: Four flamboyantly dressed female samba dancers led the procession of dignitaries though Zouk Mikael's old souk, which was lined with Brazilian flags. The dancers' feathers swayed as they made their way through the crowds to the sound of Latino music along the Ottoman-style boulevard.

This was Rio de Janeiro's famous Carnival, Lebanese style.

On Friday evening, hundreds of people crowded the souk for the opening of the first Brazilian carnival in Lebanon. The three-day festival was held in Zouk Mikael, nestled in the mountains overlooking the sea between Jounieh and Beirut. The carnival was sponsored jointly by the Brazilian Embassy and the Zouk Mikael Municipality.

Elie Khalil was one of those who had come to enjoy the inaugural festival. With a Brazilian mother, Khalil is one of many thousands of Lebanese with family ties to Brazil. 

"I love Brazil," he said.

Other visitors said that they were less familiar with Latin American culture, yet were nevertheless excited to be attending the carnival.

Patricia Makhlouf was drawn by the prospect of trying a selection of traditional Brazilian food and drinks, she said. She was probably not disappointed, given the number of stalls offering Brazilian coffee, Linguira sausages and traditional Capirinha cocktails.

"I came for the Brazilian food and drinks, and I will take some home," said Makhlouf.

"I told my husband not to wait for me," she added. "I might like it, and I'm going to dance."

The colorful performances and interpretations of traditional Brazilian musical, dance and capoeira were also a major drawing card for people traveling to the event.

"I came to see dancing," said Leila Hobeika.

The festival was officially opened by the Brazilian Embassy's Cultural Attache Roberto Medeiros and the Zouk Mikael mayor, who jointly cut a ribbon at the entrance to the old ouk. In a symbol of respect for the relationship between the two countries, this decoration consisted of two lengths of ribbon tied together, in the colors of the Lebanese and Brazilian flags.

"This festival is a reflection of the good relationship that we have" between the two countries, Medeiros told The Daily Star.

"On a personal level, I am also very happy," added Medeiros. Having both Brazilian and Lebanese heritage, he was pleased to see these two communities celebrating together.

The spirit of developing intercultural relations is one of the driving forces behind the festival, said to Mirna Abboud Mzawak, a member of the festival's organizing committee, university professor and local shop owner.

"We want to promote intercultural activities by creating a space for interaction between cultures," said Mzawak. This development is part of the committee's mission to improve relations between Lebanon's many religions and ethnicities, she added.

The festival also provides an opportunity to present a positive image of Lebanon to the world, as a multicultural society that is home to people from many nations, she said.

"We want to let the world see the real face of Lebanon, the cultural face of Lebanon, not one of violence," added Mzawak.

These sentiments are perhaps no surprise given the recent history of Zouk Mikael. The city has consistently worked to promote intercultural relations and was even recognised as a City of Peace by the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1999. The Brazilian festival is also only one of many festivals with an international flavor held by the municipality, with a German-inspired Oktoberfest scheduled for the first weekend in October.

While the crowd waited patiently during the opening speeches that outlined the festival's aims, once the official formalities were completed people turned their attention to enjoying themselves in the cool evening air.

Visitors appeared to be relishing the relaxed atmosphere as they strolled through the souk. Some browsed through the numerous shops, while others ate and drank in the restaurants lining the street.

"We are enjoying the festival, and it makes us happy," said Sibelle Charmoun.

Zouk Mikael's shopkeepers attempted to entice visitors to their stores with their wares. Displays of local handicrafts, including paintings, clothes, jewelry and even masks, spilled onto the footpath, showcasing a wide-ranging collection of goods.

In addition to the locals attempting to capitalize on the extra customers drawn to the town by the festival, some vendors had even came to the town specifically for the occasion.

Marie Helena and her mother had come to sell bags and mosaics. Helena said she was excited to be at the carnival and, given the large turnout at previous festivals in Zouk Mikael, they expected a large crowd of potential buyers.

Organizers hoped that economic benefits from the festival will flow into the local economy, they said. Georges Zgheib, an organizing committee member, said events like this are important for local shop owners because they draw numerous people from all over Lebanon.

Lebanon's first Brazilian carnival offered these visitors a unique combination of intercultural cooperation, capoeira and culinary delights. After the success of this inaugural festival, organizers are promising it will return bigger and better next year.

 

Copyright The Daily Star 2008.