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São Paulo – Next Sunday (7), Beirut will host the Lebanese-Brazilian Day, an event to promote Brazil-Lebanon relations with an exhibition of handicraft, cuisine, painting, dancing and music from both countries. It’s organized by the Lebanese-Brazilian Union, a group based in the Arab country that gathers Brazilians of Lebanese origin and Lebanese of Brazilian origin. <\/p>\n
“We want to strengthen the ties between Lebanon and Brazil in the economic, commercial, social, cultural and artistic sectors, that is, in all sectors,” said Bassam Haddad, a Lebanese man that later became a Brazilian citizen is the Union’s current president.<\/p>\n
Haddad explains that, in order to accomplish this, all the presentations and product sales will have both countries represented. “We will have stands with handicraft from Brazil and Lebanon, books and CDs from Brazil and Lebanon, paintings, folk music, everything from both countries,” he says.<\/p>\n
The cuisine stands will sell products from Brazil that aren’t produced in Lebanon, such as guaraná, and Lebanese products that can be exported to Brazil, such as olive oil and wine,” says Haddad.<\/p>\n
The event’s programme will include the participation of Lebanese visual artist Bernard Renno, who will paint a piece during the exhibition; a workshop and a joint presentation of dabke and capoeira (typical Brazilian mix of martial arts and dance); a Lebanese and Brazilian cuisine workshop; and a performance mixing belly dance and samba. Brazil’s and Lebanon’s navies will also make joint demonstrations of their activities.<\/p>\n
The Lebanese-Brazilian Day is the first event of this kind organized by the Lebanese-Brazilian Union and the opening ceremony will have the presence of Lebanon’s minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Gebran Bassil. Brazil’s ambassador in Lebanon, Jorge Kadri, will also attend the event.<\/p>\n
Founded early last year, the Lebanese-Brazilian Union currently comprises over 100 members. Its first large event was a Christmas party, which honored Brazil’s ambassador in Lebanon, plus helped feed poor residents of the Lebanese capital. The event is expected to welcome between 4,000 and 5,000 people.<\/p>\n
Quick info *Translated by Sérgio Kakitani<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Lebanese-Brazilian Day
May 7
Where: Zaitunay Bay, in front of the Beirut Yatch Club
Time: from noon to 9 pm. Opening ceremony with Gebran Bassil, at 4 pm
Free of charge <\/p>\n