Earlier this week, Palestinian musician Jowan Safadi, known for his politically charged and sarcastic songs, released a new English-language song titled Dear Francesca, dedicated to Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Francesca, originally from the Campania region of southern Italy, has been working tirelessly to document and report on Israel’s unlawful occupation, apartheid, and genocide, based on international law. In July of this year, the United States imposed sanctions on her, fuelling widespread outrage.
Among those condemning the move is Jowan, who explained that his song Dear Francesca sends a message of support in response to these sanctions.
In a post on his Instagram page, Jowan explained that the inspiration for the song came after he read a poem written in Arabic by Palestinian actress and singer Reem Talhami, which was dedicated to the UN rapporteur.
Moved by the poem, Jowan decided to compose his own song in English “in the hope that she would hear it.”
The three-minute track, which features Italian folk musical elements in collaboration with Suno AI, includes the following lyrics:
“Dear Francesca, please stay strong
I know you’ve been fighting for far too long
Facing monsters, with mirrors in your eyes
We all see the truth, we all hear their lies.”
A message of solidarity and gratitude
In an exclusive interview with The New Arab, Jowan explained that the motivation behind releasing the song was to send a message of solidarity and gratitude to Francesca for her work during a horrific period in Palestinian history, especially as the people continue to face ongoing genocide by Israel.
“Part of the song is to give her support, to let her know she is loved in Palestine, that we value what she is doing, and that we seek and encourage such models,” Jowan said.
He continued, “From the heart of the filthy white man’s world emerges a woman who breaks the mould and shows something new. We criticise Western politicians for their silence, complicity, or involvement in genocide. Francesca is the opposite. I want to tell them: be like Francesca. After the sanctions against her and the media restrictions on her on X, I wanted to support her with a song.”
In another section of the song, Jowan sings:
“Oh Bella, you make them shake
They try to break you, but you won’t break
They throw their weight, but you don’t bend
You’re not their puppet, you’re our friend.”
Here, Jowan is referring to the United States imposing sanctions on Francesca, citing her role in investigating human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and her report on the involvement of major international corporations in supporting the Israeli occupation. The UN called these sanctions a “dangerous precedent.”
According to Human Rights Watch, the sanctions are intended to silence Albanese and prevent her from carrying out her mandate.
Earlier this month, X also stripped her official account of its blue verification badge in response to pressure from pro-Israel advocacy groups.
Jowan concludes his song for Francesca Albanese with the words:
“And I know it’s not easy, but Francesca Albanese is a woman who can do what no man can.”
Artistic struggles
Based in Haifa, Jowan has released numerous political songs and albums over the past three decades.
He told The New Arab that the horrors unfolding in Gaza, including Israel’s genocidal actions, have made it more difficult for artists and Palestinians living in Israel.
“Today, it has become harder to be politically direct at a level that matches the gravity of events,” he said, citing Israeli repression and restrictions on artists and social influencers.
He added, “At the moment, I cannot sing about anything that isn’t political. Sometimes I’ve stayed silent. Early on, repression against artists was harsher. I never stopped speaking, but later I became more outspoken, posting on my social media pages.
“I haven’t participated in festivals or art events. I cannot sing, party, or dance while witnessing genocide. I received invitations abroad but declined. I released some songs, all political, though less sharply political than before October 7.”
Reflecting on the milestones of the past two years, Jowan noted that he had released Tear of Anguish in Arabic, as well as another English-language song, I Am the Semite.
As Jowan puts it, the latter addresses the weaponisation of ‘antisemitism’ against pro-Palestinian voices.
In the song, he speaks of his identity as a ‘Semite’, someone whom no one wishes to acknowledge, directly addressing accusations of antisemitism. The song reflects his experience as a refugee in a ‘ghetto’ and questions who the true Semite is in this genocide, pointing out that ethnic origins do not define one’s identity.
In 2019, Jowan released another English-language song, Super White Man, which addresses the suffering of Palestinians turned refugees in their homeland.
The song questions why Palestinians should be made to pay the price for historical events they had no part in, such as the Holocaust. It also critiques the ‘super white man’, asking why he solves his problems by creating new ones for others.
In sharing this, Jowan also mentioned that he had written and composed other songs over the past two years but chose not to release them, feeling that “the timing wasn’t right or they might cause more noise than they’re worth.”
He added that, at times, he has felt that music has no value in the face of genocide and the bombs falling on Gaza.
“Sometimes I prefer silence, feeling that art is a luxury, and music is out of place in such a bloody moment,” he said. “At the same time, I made this song for Francesca Albanese to support the solidarity movement abroad, and sometimes people in Gaza see such works and realise there are those who care for them.”
As for the Palestinian cultural scene, Jowan sees his song The Police Is Not Our Police as a reflection of the social and political climate inside the 1948 territories.
“At first, everyone felt fear and threat, and this was reflected in the artistic movement. There were a few exceptions. Some artists were persecuted,” he explained. “The artistic scene inside does not rise to the level of the moment. There are some initiatives or performances, and even comedians who tried to deliver messages through stand-up were persecuted. Some continue to write and remain active.”
Rabeea Eid is a Palestinian journalist, writer, and filmmaker who lives in the UK. His work focuses on activism, culture, and movements for political and social change
