2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the radio or audio execution or campaign.

The song lyrics reflect the ugly reality women live in Lebanon and the Arab world. We dare to say what was never said before on women’s bodies and freedom under the notion of honor. We collaborate with a music composer that’s been on the streets of Beirut since day 1 of the revolution. The aim is to mirror in our song the hunger for change and the fear shattering we are witnessing on-ground. With a modern electronic and instrumental music composition, the song combines slam verses that portray reality as it is with no shame, and a melodic chorus that speaks to every Arab woman as we sing ‘I am you, I am a thousand rebels’. The rap artist/slammer performs the lyrics in an empowering tone that reflects the strength message we aim to deliver.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

The Lebanese society is deeply engrained in patriarchy and still treats women as second-class citizens. Cultural norms justify shaming women’s bodies, blaming them for their own sexual assault and even sometimes killing them. This behavior is socially justified in the name of “honor” - a sacred notion that is strictly tied to women’s bodies and the men in their lives. Since October 17 2020, Lebanon is witnessing a revolution against the ruling class. The walls of fear are shattered as people bluntly attack the system with its corruption/oppression/and patriarchy, with women being at the forefront of the revolution since day one. The song lyrics and music composition aim to truthfully reflect the rebelliousness of the women in the streets of Beirut in an empowering tonality that exposes reality as it is with no fear or shame.

Script. Provide the full to radio/audio script in English.

ARABIC LYRICS: أنا البنت اللي قصتها ممنوعة ممنوعة من العرض أنا البنت اللي صرختها مقموعة ما تدقّوا بالعرض جسدَك بيعيش بالطول وبالعرض بيستبيح جسدي بالإكراه وبالفرض عايشة بمجتمع سيادة الشَنَب أرجوك احترم عقلي، حط جسدي ع جنب عرضي مش منشور موزّع بمنشور لمّا بدّك توصمو بالفجور عرضي منّو جسدي جسدي منّو شرفك، بشرفك بشرفك! عرضي نقطة دم ناطرينا بالدُخلة بهالنقطة بيصير الكل إلو دخلة يا أما بترشّوني بمسك الطهارة يا أما بترشّوني برصاص وحجارة عرضي منّو جسدي، بشرفك جسدي منّو شرفك أنا أنتِ، أنا آلاف الثائرات جئت أغني، صوتي كتم العادات عَنْكِ وعًني، هل تسمعون الصرخات؟ أنا وأنتِ ندعو للحياة أنا أنتِ، أنا آلاف الثائرات جئت أغني، صوتي اسكت العادات عَنْكِ وعًني، هل تسمعون الصرخات؟ أنا وأنتِ ندعو للحياة أنا الزوجة أنا الإخت أنا الإم أنا البنت أنا البنت المغتصب جسدها وحقوقا أنا مواطن فئة تانية ما بتصدقوها أنا الناجية الي قاعدين تعاقبوها عرضي منّو جسدي جسدي منّو شرفك أنا الأبسط حقوقها رافضين تشرعوَا كل صرخات الشوارع ما بتِسْمَعُوَا جايي اليوم سمّع صوتي وهبّط الحيطان جايي أنا قود الثورة اشهدي يا جدران أنا أنتِ، أنا آلاف الثائرات جئت أغني، صوتي كتم العادات عَنْكِ وعًني، هل تسمعون الصرخات؟ أنا وأنتِ ندعو للحياة أنا أنتِ، أنا آلاف الثائرات جئت أغني، صوتي كتم العادات عَنْكِ وعًني، هل تسمعون الصرخات؟ أنا وأنتِ ندعو للحياة ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE LYRICS: I’m the woman whose voice is silenced, story unnoticed, scream suppressed, Under this so-called notion, You choose to call ‘’honor’’. Your body is unbound, free to be free, You violate my body, with unjust authority. My body is not my honor. My body is not your honor. Come on! In this patriarchal society, Put my body aside, respect my mind. My body is mine, Surprising as that may be, Keep your hands to yourself, Your shame onto yourself. My body is not my honor. My body is not your honor. Come on! My honor bleeds, A stain on a white sheet, Awaited for that night to be complete. To sentence me as pure, Or forever endure, pain and torture. My body is not my honor. Come on! My body is not your honor. I am you, I am a thousand rebels I sing for us all, To make traditions fall, Can you hear my screams? For you and I to breathe new life (x2) I am the wife, the sister, The mother, the daughter, Whose rights are scrapped, Body raped. I am the degraded citizen, never believed I am the survivor, shamed and demeaned My body is not my honor. My body is not your honor. You refuse my rights, And ignore the streets that scream. My voice will be heard, And break down the walls. Today, I lead the revolution, I am you, I am a thousand rebels I sing for us all, To make traditions fall, Can you hear my screams? For you and I to breathe new life (x2)