Some critics argue that in times of war and devastation, producing pop music is inappropriate. However, millions of his fans believe he has empowered them to celebrate their culture and their cause.
The first encounter with a Saint Levant song, just three years ago, was in a world that no longer exists. Gaza’s infrastructure – its buildings, schools, roads, markets, and mosques – remained intact. My home city of Khartoum in Sudan also stood firm, as it had for centuries. Back then, scrolling through social media was a source of amusement, not dread. For instance, in late 2022, I might have discovered a captivating TikTok clip of a song by an Arab artist with a clever name: Saint Levant, a witty adaptation of the Western fashion icon Saint Laurent, Arabized to honor the Levant region of the Middle East. Soon, this same song began appearing across my social media feeds.
In the video, Saint Levant, then 22 years old, is seen wearing a white vest and brown trousers. A gold pendant chain adorns his chest, and a tattoo encircles his left arm. He begins with a rap in English, telling the woman he is pursuing that “he’s not toxic, he’s broken baby.” Then comes the surprise: he transitions to Arabic, followed by French, and then back to English. In a manner reminiscent of a wholesome boy next door, he extends greetings to her grandmother and brother. He then expresses his desire to make her forget her ex, to have her overthinking her text messages, and to have their passionate moments heard by the neighbors. “Lover boy Levant is back in the building,” he declared.