SALAM LI BEIRUT

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: arrival and market

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: performances by Sophia Habib - Roufaida - Space Choir - Zina Radio - Benzo

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: market + drinks

The evening is hosted by Deen Groothuizen

Sophia Habib is a Rotterdam-based singer, songwriter, producer, and performer whose sound boldly blends pop and electronic influences into deeply personal and atmospheric music, often described as avant-garde. Known for her smooth yet powerful vocals, introspective songwriting, and genre-crossing productions, Sophia has quickly established herself as one of the most intriguing emerging artists in the Netherlands.

After studying at the Rotterdam Conservatory, Sophia developed a sound in which her classical background merges with a love for 2000s R&B and contemporary electronic pop. The result is a rich and refined musical identity that is both emotional and innovative. Her previous releases, including the widely discussed album Fragile, received praise from outlets such as PAPER Magazine, Wonderland Magazine, and Earmilk, who commended her ability to effortlessly move between soulful ballads and bold, modern productions.

Boundary-pushing, poetic, and activist – Roufaida is an artist whose work reflects her evolving perspective and commitment to exploring new ideas. Drawing from her North-African heritage, she combines unconventional melodies with metaphorical songwriting shaped by Arabic poetry and the realities of today’s world. Influenced by innovative artists like Rosalía, Björk, and Arooj Aftab, Dutch-Moroccan Roufaida honors multiple traditions while creatively expanding upon them. October 10th, she released her debut album Coming Up For Air.

Roufaida’s breakthrough came with the release of the Roufaida EP in 2023, featuring standout tracks like Don’t Bend, showcasing the deep tones of the Moroccan guembri, and Kalimat, inspired by a poem by Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani. The EP gained international airplay and brought her to stages across the Benelux, Germany, and Morocco, with performances at festivals such as Down The Rabbit Hole, Lowlands, Into The Great Wide Open, and Noorderslag. She has shared the stage with artists like Xavier Rudd, Balthazar, Melody Gardot, and Eefje de Visser.

Praised for its distinctive sound, the EP earned two nominations for the prestigious Edison Awards. Critics have hailed Roufaida as “a true discovery” (De Volkskrant), applauded her fusion of North-African influences with alternative pop (NRC), and recognized "Don’t Bend" as “the coolest groove of the year” (Humo). 

With The Space Choir, a fresh wind is blowing through the Dutch choral scene. From people in their twenties to retirees, from the queer community to both experienced and inexperienced vocalists - everyone grooves along! When Australian superstar Troye Sivan shared a video of them, Dutch media quickly picked it up: from Het Parool to Hart van Nederland, from 3FM to Editie NL. Since then, they’ve been on a roll: they were, for example, in the running for Holland’s Got Talent and performed to sold-out venues such as De Doelen and Melkweg. With pop songs like Daisies (Justin Bieber), Bodyguard (Beyoncé), and Back on 74 (Jungle), they get audiences dancing, laughing, singing, and crying.

Benzo Karim (1996) is a poet, spoken word artist, and writer. Karim moves audiences even before he has spoken, his presence alone speaks volumes. His performances are musical, rhythmic, dynamic, and infused with emotion in a way only he can express. Karim has found a home in both the spoken and the written word. For him, writing is both an activist and a poetic act.

In 2022, he was part of the Dutch Foundation for Literature’s Slow Writing Lab and won the El Hizjra Literature Prize (Poetry). He is also a coach at Poetry Circle and an editor at Mensen Zeggen Dingen. In addition to performing on various stages such as Lowlands, Crossing Border, Read My World, Poetry International, Opera Forward Festival, and the Boekenbal, he made his debut on November 18, 2022, with his poetry collection El Ghorba, a work centered on conversations with his father and the remembrance of his mother.

At Maas, he created a spoken word performance together with Esther Schouten for the production WIJ.

ZINARADIO is an independent platform amplifying music, artists, DJs, and cultural movements from West Asia, North Africa, and its diaspora. Through radio, events, mixtapes, and curated activations, ZINARADIO bridges WANA sounds with global club culture, foregrounding context, community, and ethical storytelling.

Deen Groothuizen (they/them/he/him) is a cultural anthropologist working on digital inclusion in libraries. As a Rotterdam native, they contribute with love and humor in various roles as a presenter, moderator, and host, and are committed to working toward a decolonial world.