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Fri, Jan 23, 2026 | Shaban 4, 1447 | Fajr 05:44 | DXB 
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Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani, son of Fairuz, dies aged 69
Rahbani wrote and composed timeless songs for Fairuz, including “Kifak Inta” and “Bala Wala Shi”
Renowned Lebanese songwriter and composer Ziad Rahbani, the eldest son of iconic music legend Fairuz, has passed away at the age of 69, following a prolific artistic career that left its mark on both music and theatre.
He died after a battle with illness, the Lebanese official news agency said on Saturday.
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Ziad, who is considered one of the most influential innovators in Lebanese music and satirical political theatre, was also son of famous Lebanese musician Assi Rahbani who died in 2021.
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Timeless Fairuz songs
Ziad Rahbani was born on January 1, 1956 in the town of Antelias in the Metn district of Lebanon.
He began engaging with music from a young age, often interrupting his school lessons to follow his father’s compositions. It is said that Assi encouraged him rationally and openly to develop his own artistic opinions—even as early as the age of six.
Ziad began his artistic career in the early 1970s with his first acclaimed play “Sahriyyeh” ("An Evening Gathering"), and later wrote and composed timeless songs for his mother Fairuz, including “Kifak Inta” and “Bala Wala Shi.”
His works were known for their sharp social and political critique, expressed through plays such as “Nazl Al-Sourour,” “A Long American Film,” and “Bema Inno.” He was also recognised for blending oriental music with jazz and classical influences.
His active participation in the artistic scene began in 1973, when he composed the song “Sa’alouni El Nass” (“People Asked Me”) for Fairuz, as part of a joint musical project with the Rahbani Brothers. This came after his father was hospitalised, and he was only 17 years old at the time. The song achieved widespread and well-deserved popularity.
He also appeared in the play “Al Mahatta” (“The Station”) in the role of a policeman, and later acted in the play “Mais El Reem” in 1975.
'Not just an artist'
As the news of Ziad's passing was announced, many politicians, celebrities from across the Arab World took to social media to mourn him.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun paid his tribute to Ziad in a heartfelt message, saying: "Ziad Rahbani was not just an artist; he was a complete intellectual and cultural phenomenon. More than that, he was a living conscience, a defiant voice against injustice, and a true mirror for the oppressed and marginalised. He gave voice to people's pain and played on the strings of truth without hesitation."
Fans also expressed their grief online. "Ziad Rahbani transformed our culture, shaped our thinking, our politics, our humour. Gave language to our complicated romances. His lyrics and his voice and his criticism and his sarcasm are interwoven into all the intimate ways I love Beirut," said one user on X.
"Ziad Rahbani was a cultural icon, son of two icons, Fairuz & Assi. Hours of family giggling in times when things were so hard for our people, he was a light. Rest peacefully Ziad," said another expressing her grief on his death.
Yasmin Hussein
Yasmin Hussein is an Assistant Digital Editor who believes that every news story carries a human element. Her motto is 'get it first, but first get it right'.
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