@kalighalia

Ghalia Benali is a Belgian-Tunisian singer, composer, actress, and storyteller whose music bridges Arabic culture, poetry and maqām; aligning jazz, baroque, flamenco and contemporary sounds into one flowing river. Known for her deep contralto voice and powerful stage presence, she has been nicknamed “the Aretha Franklin of Carthage” by the Belgian jazz legend Philip Catherine and is often referred to as “the granddaughter of Oum Kalthoum” for her unerring ability to reinterpret Arabic heritage while keeping its soul alive.  Each performance by Ghalia is a living ritual where music, poetry, silence, and storytelling align to create an immersive experience transcending time and culture.

@akramvio

Palestinian-American violinist, composer and producer Akram Abdulfattah is an artist who has earned international recognition for his genre-defying music and commitment to cultural dialogue. Most recently, Abdulattah was a featured artist in the WOMEX 2025 Showcase Official Selection. He has been shortlisted for jazzahead! 2026 and is a recipient of multiple awards from the Marcel Khalife and Palestinian National Competitions. Abdulfattah’s musical philosophy is rooted in instrumental storytelling, with a distinctive fusion style shaped by Indian, Turkish and Persian influences, side-by-side with Western jazz, rock and funk.

@laura_elkeslassy

Laura Elkeslassy, a singer of Judeo-Arab music, draws inspiration from her Moroccan roots in her exploration of North-African folk, Andalusi nubas, and Maghrebi Jewish liturgy. Laura’s ongoing journey of self-discovery includes forgotten ancestors, wild synchronicities found in dusty old bookstores and the reclaiming of a lost family name. This research is the inspirational heart of her latest project, the spellbinding and raucous retro-futurist cabaret, Ya Ghorbati (يا غربتي) Divas in Exile. This new album bridges Elkeslassy’s sense of familial longing for what’s lost with an excavation of the music of past North African Judeo-Arab divas. Weaving together folk and sacred music from the Maghreb, ranging from traditional Andalusi style, to popular Chaabi, to Francarabe cabaret, Ya Ghorbati moves across time and space to trace a history of political upheaval and exile. This much-anticipated studio album of spirited, haunting judeo-arab folk will be supported by a stellar live band featuring Eylem Basaldi (violin and production), Yoni Avi Battat (viola and oud), Nizar Dahmani (drums and percussion), Zoe Guigueno (bass), and Rachid Halihal (oud). The evening’s concert will be directed by Ira Khonen Temple, Ya Ghorbati’s producer.

@amirelsaffar_official

Amir ElSaffar’s most recent album, New Quartet Live at Pierre Boulez Saal, documents the initial encounter between trumpeter Amir ElSaffar, drummer Tomas Fujiwara and tenor saxophonist Ole Mathisen with the Greek pianist Tania Giannouli, a rising star who has headlined major jazz festivals and venues across Europe. ElSaffar’s nuanced and vibrant trumpet sound, rooted in Chicago school classical technique, combines subtle ornamentation and microtones of Arab Maqām with Jazz influences ranging from Miles to Woody Shaw. This new music ranges from intensely quiet and nearly silent to ecstatic and declamatory, with ear-opening microtonal piano and beautifully unconventional harmonies throughout. Following a mini-residency and recording session at the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, a hall known for its phenomenal acoustics, ElSaffar will resurrect that experience with his New Quartet at Habibi Festival.

@nadineelroubi

Nadine El Roubi is a neo-soul artist of Sudanese heritage based out of Brooklyn. El Roubi's songwriting evokes her long relationship with Hip-Hop, foregrounding her skill at sharp storytelling woven together with intricate harmonies and melodies. Her debut album, Life Is Beautiful Again (releasing 10/26) is an introspective exploration of identity, spirituality and the bittersweet journey of finding hope as a female woman of color in today's world. For her Habibi Festival set, Nadine El Roubi will debut the live experience of the full Life Is Beautiful Again album,  along with performances of  fan favorite singles such as "Good Mood" and "Honey Butter".

@marwamorganmusic

NYC-based / Egyptian-born vocalist Marwa Morgan presents a program of songs accompanied by an ensemble of musicians lead by the instrumentalist Ameer Armaly. Growing up in Cairo, Morgan's musical style has been heavily influenced by classical Arabic music icons. Her original music, including her recently released single “Bukra,” blends elements of classical tradition with modern musical elements.

@ameer.armaly

Born in South Carolina, Ameer Armaly was exposed to Arabic music from an early age, first through his uncle who played the oud and later under the tutelage of Simon and Najib Shaheen. Ameer performs as an instrumentalist with a variety of artists and leads an Arabic music ensemble which performs regularly around the New York area, cultivating local talent and reviving the great Arabic instrumental and vocal music of the Twentieth Century.