In Beirut, a Displaced Musician Keeps Playing Despite War
On the streets of Badaro, displaced musician Abed Sabbagh from Dahye finds a temporary home between a parked van and the sidewalk, where he continues to play the oud.
The musician who frequents the streets of Beirut and plays nostalgic tunes was forced to flee the southern suburbs with his son, Hassan, relocating to Badaro, where they now live in their van.
Abed Sabbagh still holds on to his oud despite the war. Every day, he stands on a sidewalk in Badaro, playing heartfelt melodies for passersby and turning his pain into music. Before the war, he was often seen moving across Beirut with his instrument, playing in different neighborhoods, especially in Badaro, where his music had already become part of the street’s everyday rhythm.
Today, life has been reduced to two spaces: a van and the sidewalk. Yet he remains thankful, saying, “When I look at the tents… I find myself in a thousand blessings. The van is like a deluxe apartment in comparison.”
In the heart of Badaro, Abed Sabbagh is more than a musician. He has become a living portrait of displacement in Lebanon. Despite loss and uncertainty, he continues to turn hardship into melody, holding on to a quiet, unbroken sense of hope.
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