Exclusive to “Kayan 24”
Adel Khadaj, a Lebanese Zajal poet from Kfarmatta, Aley District. He was the vice-president of the Syndicate of Zajal Poets in Lebanon for a long time and head of the Layali Troupe.
In his youth, he formed the Masrah Troupe with poets Antoine Saadeh, Ahmed Jammoul, and Elias Abu Rashid. He accompanied Moussa Zgheib in the Qalaa Troupe for a period spanning more than 10 years, as well as Zaghloul Al-Damour for a period of 8 years, while he accompanied Talie Hamdan in the Rabie Troupe for 5 years.
He took the Zajal podium and headed a Zajal troupe when he was only 14 years old in the village of Jahiliyeh in the Chouf. He competed with the greatest poets of Lebanon, such as Zein Shuaib, Asaad Saeed, Mohammed Al-Mustafa, and Ahmed Al-Sayed. He also toured the five continents in Zajal concerts, reaching Sweden and Norway in addition to America, Canada, Australia, Africa, Europe, and most Arab countries.
He published 4 poetry books, the first of which was "Sha'lat al-Manaber" (Torch of the Podiums), in which he spoke about his upbringing and beginnings, but it is now lost. The second book, "Jawlat Sha'er" (Tours of a Poet), includes all types of Zajal, such as dialogues, Sharqi, ghazal (love poetry), and nationalistic poems. The third book, "Hiwar al-Ajyal" (Dialogue of Generations), includes the matches with the greatest Zajal poets in Lebanon and the dialogues that took place between him and the great poets. As for his latest release, it is "Min Day'ati" (From My Village), in which he wrote everything he said about it on all occasions.
A creative poet who carried the burdens of his homeland on his shoulders, as well as the Palestinian cause and Arab issues.
Among his poems:
Love was and still is the origin of the universe
And no one has retired from the state of love
Eve on the spindle of her magic, love was spun
And all beauty was poured into her from eternity
And Al-Akhtal the younger, with his sweet word, spun
Your eyelid that taught us how love is spun
And it is not just your eyelid as Al-Akhtal said
Everything in your face is teaching us love
