Xavi Sarrià presents “HAYAT”, a call for life and the resistance of the Palestinian people
The Valencian artist’s new single features Palestinian singer and activist Salma Alhakim and becomes a tribute to the strength, culture and resilience of the Palestinian people amidst genocide and Zionist occupation
A song rooted in internationalist solidarity, born from decades of shared activism between Sarrià and journalist David Segarra, connecting the lessons learned in Palestine with the wave of mobilization that has swept across the Catalan Countries
“Hayat” is a networked action by BDS País Valencià, Prou Complicitat, Comunitat Palestina a Catalunya, Act x Palestina, the cooperative Propaganda pel Fet, and documentary filmmaker David Segarra —a member of the 2010 Freedom Flotilla— whose proceeds will be donated to Palestinian organisations working on the ground in humanitarian aid, human rights defence, and the promotion of culture as a form of resistance
LISTEN "Hayat" de XAVI SARRIÀ with SALMA ALHAKIM
“HAYAT” is a song by Valencian artist Xavi Sarrià featuring Palestinian activist and traditional singer Salma Alhakim. It is a tribute to life and to the resilience of the Palestinian people amidst genocide. A heartfelt testimony to the wave of historic solidarity experienced here. A song that highlights everything that culturally unites the Catalan Countries and the western shore of the Mediterranean sea with Palestine as peoples connected through a Shared sea. A call to keep alive the flame of mobilization against genocide, occupation, apartheid and colonialism.
“HAYAT” was born with the support of Act X Palestine, BDS País Valencià, Prou Complicitat and the Palestinian Community of Catalonia, and from the long-standing collaboration between Xavi Sarrià and journalist David Segarra, comrades in activism since adolescence. As the former leader of his very first band Obrint Pas, Xavi Sarrià travelled to Palestine in 2009 as part of a musical brigade organized by the Palestinian Community of Catalonia, performing in several towns across the occupied West Bank. As a journalist and documentary filmmaker, David SegarraFreedom Flotilla, which was attacked by the Israeli army and in which nine activists were killed. Later, Xavi Sarrià and David Segarra collaborated to publish the latter’s book, To Live, Die and Be Born in Gaza, about his experiences in the occupied and blockaded strip.
“HAYAT” continues these shared learnings. It is a militant and solidarity-driven project coordinated by the cooperative record label Propaganda pel Fet. All proceeds from the song will be donated to Palestinian organizations working on the ground across three areas: humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza, ending impunity, and promoting culture as a form of resistance.
The song “HAYAT” features, in addition to Salma Alhakim, the collaboration of Valencian musicians specializing in traditional Mediterranean instruments: Héctor Peropadre (Valencian lute and dulzaina), Abel Soler (oud and baglama), Diego López (percussion) and Paco Costa (flamenco guitar). It will be released on social media next Wednesday the 26th to amplify the mobilizations called across the territory for November 28th, 29th and 30th on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the partition of Palestine, to denounce the ongoing genocide in Gaza and to demand a full arms embargo and the end of commercial relations with the Israeli regime.
