Róisín El Cherif : Palestinian pride

Topics covered : Palestinian heritage, injustice, speaking up, Zionism, artwashing.


This week I speak to Irish Palestinian artist, Róisín El Cherif and it's a powerful conversation.

She lives in Galway with her parents, her Mom is Irish and her father is from Gaza and she has lived in Ireland for 18 years now.

She talks about growing up as an Irish-Palestinian and she shares her perspective on the past 6 months, in particular.

This month Róisín will also be releasing a very special song with all the proceeds going to Palestinians causes, so keep an eye out for that.


Book mention : Becoming Pro-Palestinian edited by Rosemary Sayigh


The song that Róisín sings at the end of the conversation :

Zahret El Madaen (Flower of cities ) Fairouz - 1967


‎لأجلك يا مدينة الصلاة أصلي

‎لأجلك يا بهية المساكن يا زهرة المدائن

‎يا قدس يا قدس يا مدينة الصلاة

‎عيوننا إليك ترحل كل يوم

‎تدور في أروقة المعابد

‎تعانق الكنائس القديمة

‎و تمسح الحزن عن المساجد

‎يا ليلة الأسراء يا درب من مروا إلى السماء

‎عيوننا إليك ترحل كل يوم و انني أصل​


​'It is for you O city of the prayer that I pray

It is for you O splendid home, O flower of the cities

O Jerusalem​, O Jerusalem​, O Jerusalem​, O city of the prayer

Our eyes are set out to you everyday

They walk through the porticos of the temples

Embrace of the old churches

And take the sadness away from the mosques

O night of Al asra O path of those who left for the sky

Our eyes are set out to you everyday and I pray​'


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