Rim Banna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rim Banna
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Rim Banna in Oslo (2014)
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
ريم بنا
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| Born | 8 December 1966 Nazareth, Israel |
| Died | 24 March 2018 (aged 51) Nazareth, Israel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, composer |
| Years active | 1985–2017 |
Rim Banna (born December 8, 1966 – died March 24, 2018) was a famous Palestinian singer and composer. She was known for giving a new twist to old Palestinian songs and poems.
Rim was born and lived in Nazareth. She studied music in Moscow, Russia, where she met her husband, Leonid Alexeyenko, a guitarist. They had three children.
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Rim Banna's Music and Message
Rim Banna became popular in the early 1990s. She recorded her own versions of traditional Palestinian children's songs. These songs were almost forgotten. Many families in Palestine still sing these songs today. This is thanks to Rim Banna's work.
Rim Banna wrote her own songs. She also added music to Palestinian poetry. Her songs often talked about the struggles of Palestinians. This was especially true for those living in the West Bank. Her music is often described as "emotional" and "haunting."
She performed live in the West Bank. She also reached audiences in Gaza through live webcasts. Rim Banna performed her first concert in Syria in 2009. She also performed in Tunisia in 2011 and Beirut in 2012.
Reaching a European Audience
Lullabies from the Axis of Evil
Rim Banna became known in Europe after 2003. A Norwegian music producer, Erik Hillestad, invited her to join a CD project. The CD was called Lullabies from the Axis of Evil. Norwegian singer Kari Bremnes also took part. She invited Rim Banna to Oslo, Norway. They performed a show together.
This album was seen as a musical message against war. It featured female singers from Palestine, Iraq, Iran, and Norway. Other singers from North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and Afghanistan also joined. They sang traditional lullabies from their home countries. They sang them as duets with English-speaking artists. This helped the songs reach a wider audience.
The Mirrors of My Soul Album
Rim Banna's album, The Mirrors of My Soul, was different from her earlier work. She dedicated it to Palestinian and Arab political prisoners. This album was made with a Norwegian quintet (a group of five musicians). It mixed "Western pop" styles with Middle Eastern music. The songs had Arabic lyrics.
Even though the style changed, the main topics stayed the same. The album included "songs of despair and hope." These songs were about the lives of people facing challenges. There was even a song about the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.
Rim Banna's Albums
- Jafra (1985)
- Your tears Mother (1986)
- The Dream (1993)
- New Moon (1995)
- Mukaghat (1996)
- Al Quds Everlasting (2002)
- Krybberom (2003) Rim Banna & SKRUK (2003, Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
- Lullabies from the Axis of Evil (2003, Kirkelig Kulturverksted – Various female artists)
- The Mirrors of My Soul (2005, Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
- This was not my story (2006) Rim Banna & Henrik Koitz
- Seasons of violet (2007, Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
- Songs across Walls of Separation (2008 Kirkelig Kulturverksted – Various artists)
- April Blossoms (2009, Kirkelig Kulturverksted) – an album for children, dedicated to children in Gaza.
- A Time to cry (2010, Kirkelig Kulturverksted) – recorded with three Palestinian singers.
- "Tomorrow" (Bokra) (2011) – a single song by Quincy Jones. Rim Banna represented Palestine in this project.
- Revelation of Ecstasy and Rebellion (2013, Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
- Songs from a Stolen Spring (2014, Kirkelig Kulturverksted) – featuring "Break Your Fears."
Rim Banna's Passing
Rim Banna passed away in her hometown of Nazareth on March 24, 2018. She was 51 years old. She had been battling breast cancer for nine years.
