Rima Rahbani has taken her followers on an emotional journey back in time by sharing a rare video documenting part of her late brother Ziad Rahbani’s childhood. ❤️
The footage, shared through her official account on X, offers a rare glimpse of Ziad before he became one of the most recognizable composers, musicians and playwrights in the Arab world.
The video includes childhood footage of Ziad and concludes with a photograph of him with his sister Rima during their younger years.
Rima also added her name to parts of the footage, highlighting its personal nature and suggesting that the material belonged to her private archive.
💔 Rima’s Emotional Message
Rima accompanied the video with a deeply personal message about the beginning of September, describing the month as one of the closest to her heart.
She explained that the post was among the things she loved most and connected the memory to people who remain deeply important to her.
Her words also reflected her belief that her late brother could still hear her, turning the post into something much more personal than a simple archival video.
She ended the message by addressing fans of Fairuz, the Rahbani family and Ziad, describing the video as deeply painful. 🕊️
The emotional tone of her message transformed the footage into a personal tribute and a window into memories that had remained away from the public eye.
🎹 Ziad Rahbani’s Early Talent
Born on January 1, 1956, Ziad Rahbani was the eldest son of legendary composer Assi Rahbani and Lebanese singer Fairuz.
He grew up surrounded by music and theater, but he eventually developed a distinctive artistic identity of his own.
His musical talent appeared at a very young age. He became fascinated with melodies and musical structures and gradually began developing his abilities as a pianist and composer.
His early artistic interests were not limited to music. He also wrote literary material during his teenage years before eventually dedicating much of his creative energy to music and theater.
🎼 “Saalouni El Nass” Changed His Career
One of the most important early milestones in Ziad Rahbani’s career came in 1973, when he composed “Saalouni El Nass” for his mother Fairuz.
He was only 17 years old at the time.
The song was created during a particularly important period for the Rahbani family, as his father Assi Rahbani was facing health problems while Fairuz was preparing for the stage.
The song later became one of Fairuz’s most recognizable works and marked an important beginning for the artistic collaboration between mother and son.
Ziad, however, did not simply continue the traditional Rahbani style. He gradually developed a musical language of his own, blending Eastern musical traditions with Western influences.
🎭 A New Voice in Arab Theater
Theater became another major part of Ziad Rahbani’s artistic legacy.
He began his theatrical career with “Sahriyyeh” in 1973 and later created several influential productions, including “Nزل السرور,” “Bennesbeh Bokra Chou?”, “Long American Film,” “Shi Fashal,” “Bikhossous El Karamé wel Shaab El Anid” and “Lola Fousset El Amal.”
His theater was known for its sharp humor and social and political criticism.
Rather than creating fictional worlds detached from everyday life, Ziad often placed ordinary people and their struggles at the center of his stories.
During Lebanon’s civil war, his theater became increasingly connected to the country’s political and social reality.
He used comedy and satire to address war, sectarianism, corruption, poverty, identity and political divisions.
🎧 A Distinctive Musical Style
Ziad Rahbani developed one of the most recognizable musical styles in the Arab world.
He blended Eastern melodies with jazz, Western harmony, modern rhythms and other international influences.
This mixture allowed him to create a sound that was unmistakably his own.
His approach also played an important role in developing Fairuz’s later musical identity, with songs such as “Keefak Inta,” “Wala Keif” and “Oudak Rannan” becoming important parts of her repertoire. 🎶
🖤 An Artist Who Asked Difficult Questions
Ziad Rahbani was never simply a composer.
His work consistently engaged with society and politics, addressing difficult questions about Lebanon and the wider Arab world.
He often used humor as a powerful tool, presenting serious political and social ideas through ordinary conversations and seemingly simple situations.
Behind the laughter was usually a deeper criticism of society.
This combination of humor, music and social commentary helped his work remain relevant across generations.
🕊️ A Legacy That Continues
Ziad Rahbani passed away on July 26, 2025, at the age of 69.
His death marked the end of a remarkable career that crossed several artistic fields.
He was a composer, pianist, musician, playwright and writer whose work left a lasting mark on Lebanese and Arab culture.
Following his death, audiences returned to his songs, theatrical productions and interviews, rediscovering the work of an artist whose influence extended far beyond his own generation.
📱 A Childhood Memory Brings Him Back
Rima’s newly shared footage offers something different from the images audiences usually associate with Ziad.
There is no stage, piano or microphone.
Instead, viewers see a child and a young man before he became the legendary artist they would later know.
That is precisely what makes the footage so powerful.
It shows the person before the artist. ❤️
The video also offers a rare glimpse into the private world of the Rahbani family, away from concerts, studios and public appearances.
For many fans, the footage is more than an old recording. It is a reminder of the human being behind the music.
🌹 A Memory That Lives On
By sharing childhood images of her brother, Rima Rahbani has brought Ziad back to his audience in one of the most intimate ways possible.
The footage reminds viewers that behind the legendary composer was once a child growing up surrounded by music, family and creativity.
Artists may leave the world, but their work continues to speak.
Their songs remain alive, their characters continue to make audiences laugh and think, and their memories become increasingly precious with time.
Rima’s video therefore becomes more than an archival discovery.
It is a personal window into the childhood of an artist who would later become one of the most distinctive voices in Arab music and theater. 🕊️🎹
Khan.
