Assala Nasri, one of the most famous artists in the Arab world, will take the stage in Damascus on Thursday in her first appearance in her country after 15 years due to her outspoken opposition to the Bashar al-Assad government.
Welcome Back to the Homeland
Assala, who professionally uses only her first name, arrived at Damascus International Airport on Tuesday and has come on this trip with her family. In a video released online, she expressed her happiness and said that her country remains just as she remembers it, while walking through the streets of Damascus.
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On Wednesday, she began rehearsals with her band at the Al-Faiha Sports Hall to prepare for two concerts scheduled for Thursday and Saturday. The Syrian Minister of Culture, Mohammad Yasin Saleh, praised her support for the 2011 revolution during a brief meeting with her, describing it as "genuine."
Highly Anticipated Concerts
Assala's concerts, promoted as "Awdat Al-Asala" (Return of Authenticity), are expected to receive a warm welcome, with tickets nearly sold out. She will perform some of her most famous songs, including her recent song "Assala," which is about returning to her homeland and her deep connection to her Syrian roots. This song, released in August, quickly became successful, garnering over 20 million views on YouTube.
The concerts are held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Syrian Artists' Union and are part of the "Summer of Syria 2026" festival, which includes cultural events in the capital.
The head of the Artists' Union, Mazen Al-Natour, told the state news agency SANA last month that Assala's return signifies a resurgence of artistic and cultural activity in Syria and expressed hope that Syrian artists and other Arab artists would perform in the country in the future.
After the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in a rebel attack in December 2024, the new leadership of Syria is working to rebuild various parts of the country that have been devastated by over a decade of civil war and sanctions.
While there is much excitement surrounding Assala's return concert, her comeback to the Syrian stage has not been entirely welcomed. Some extremists have criticized the event as a "sinful act," and online videos show that some promotional posters for the concerts have been torn down.
In July, concerts by Mohammad Iskandar, a Lebanese singer, and Hussam Junaid, a Syrian singer, which were to be held in Homs province, were canceled due to negative public reactions to their past support for the Assad government. Additionally, in late June, the Ministry of Culture canceled a concert by Shadi Jamil, a Syrian singer also known for supporting the previous government, at the Damascus Opera House.
Assala last held a charity concert at the Damascus Opera House in February 2010, a year before the Syrian uprising began. She left Syria in 2011 after the start of anti-government protests and publicly supported the Syrian people, which led to her expulsion from the Syrian Artists' Union. She moved to Cairo and never returned to Syria under Assad, fearing arrest due to her political views.
In 2017, Assala was temporarily detained at Beirut International Airport for drug possession. In 2014, Lebanese authorities arrested her at the same airport and confiscated her passport based on an Interpol search warrant issued at the request of the Assad government. She was released a few hours later, and her passport was returned to her.
Assala was born in 1969 in Damascus and quickly became famous in the music world. She began her career in 1991 with the song "Law Ta'arifou" and rapidly gained recognition throughout the Arab world. Over her more than three decades of artistic activity, she has released over 22 albums and won numerous awards.
Assala is currently planning to hold a tour in the United States and had a concert in Paris in April. On Wednesday, a businessman based in Damascus, who specializes in traditional works, gifted her a 100-year-old ancient oud that belonged to her late father.
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