Sabah, Country's Leaders Mourn Wadih Al-Safi, Suleiman Says His Death 'National Loss'
The death of music legend singer Wadih al-Safi was mourned on Saturday by several Lebanese figures who expressed that his passing “is a national loss.”
Renowned Lebanese singer Sabah issued a statement mourning her “life long friend, the great artist” Wadih al-Safi.
Sabah said: “A Lebanese cedar has fallen today and the countries' mountains have bent over the death of the great al-Safi.”
"May you rest in peace in heaven, next to saints. You, your work and your art will remain alive in our hearts and will always be engraved in Lebanese history."
"With grief and pain we mourn al-Safi and his death is a loss to the country and to every Lebanese family,” President Michel Suleiman said in a phone call with the singer's family.
"His art embodied Lebanon's pride and glory.”
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam also contacted the late singer's family to offer his condolences, the state-run National News Agency reported.
"I am sincerely sorry for the loss of the great Lebanese and Arab singer,” Salam said.
"With his passing, Lebanon has lost a great national figure that has offered a lot to the country, particularly his timeless patriotic songs,” caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said in a released statement.
Mansour added: “Al-Safi will be missed by Lebanese people in the country as well as by expats because his voice revived memories, and was their connection to Lebanon. He expressed their feelings towards their homeland.”
Meanwhile, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea considered that al-Safi will remain “immortal like Lebanon's cedars.”
"God has created a voice that can be felt but cannot be touched. He created the spirit of freedom and immortality within al-Safi,” Geagea said in a released statement.
"For this reason, al-Safi is immortal.”
Geagea continued: "We bid farewell today to al-Safi that carried Lebanon in his heart. We will never forget the vibrations of his voice in these tough times."
"May you rest in peace Wadih. Lebanon that you loved will not end and your songs will revive our memories and our will-power to stay here and continue our path.”
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said he lost “a very dear friend.”
"But people like Wadih al-Safi do not die, they remain immortal,” Aoun told OTV.
He explained: “Wadih al-Safi can be found in the hearts of all Lebanese people, wherever they were. He is present in all Lebanese households.”
"What consoles us is that he will always be present in people's hearts through his voice, music and image.”
MP Boutros Harb also mourned al-Safi in a released statement, saying that the singer is “one of Lebanon's blessings.”
Harb urged the Lebanese state to “embrace the great figures of the country so that they are not forced to continue producing art and exerting efforts until their very last days to preserve their dignity.”
Al-Safi, 92, died at Bellevue Medical Center in al-Metn's neighborhood of al-Mansourieh on Friday evening.
The NNA noted that the singer was transferred to the hospital at 7:30 pm, after falling ill at the house of his son Tony.
The Lebanese legendary singer's funeral will be held on Monday October 14 at St. George cathedral in downtown Beirut and he will be laid to rest afterwards.
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