Yahya Lababidi — Dajani Chronicles

Yahya Lababidi (1901–1943)

Yahya Lababidi, place unknown, early 1930s. Source: Rabiha Aref Daoud Dajani family photo collection.

Rabiha’s first husband Yahya Ahmad Lababidi is born to a literary Beiruti family, and he inherits an appreciation for music and poetry. Despite displaying artistic talent from a young age, Yahya is pressed by his family to study dentistry at the American University of Beirut (and is Nahil Habboub’s colleague at AUB) but his love for music is greater than his desire to please his family. So Yahya drops out of AUB and travels to Baghdad where he briefly teaches music at the Higher Teachers College then decides to move to Jerusalem around 1935. There Yahya connects with Nahil Habboub who introduces him to her husband Dr. Mahmoud. Yahya (perhaps with the help of Dr. Mahmoud) is appointed as the director of the Arabic music section at the Palestine Broadcasting Service (PBS) radio station Jerusalem Calling (إذاعة القدس / هنا القدس) in 1936 when it starts its transmission. Yahya also finds love in Jerusalem and marries Rabiha, Dr. Mahmoud’s niece, in 1937.

When Yahya met Rabiha: Yahya Lababidi was supposed to ask for the eldest sister’s hand in marriage, but Rabiha flaunted a rose from behind a curtain and Yahya was charmed by this daring brunette.
- Sawsan Lababidi and Ghada Nabil Tawfiq Dajani, Rabiha’s daughter and granddaughter

Another significant hire at the PBS is of the renowned poet Ibrahim Tuqan, who heads the Arabic programming section at the station. And there Yahya and Ibrahim meet again (they first met at AUB in late 1920s) and develop a close friendship and professional collaboration that sees Yahya compose music to a number of Ibrahim’s poems.

Yahya Lababidi was an accomplished musician who composed many songs, including Farid al-Atrash’s ‘ya ritni teir’. He was a dear friend of the Palestinian poet Ibrahim Tuqan. They both worked at the Palestine Broadcasting Service (PBS) and collaborated on a number of songs.
- Wafa AbulWafa Dajani, Sawsan Lababidi and Ghada Nabil Tawfiq Dajani

In 1940 Yahya moves on to a new role within the Near East Broadcasting Station (إذاعة الشرق الأدنى) first in Jenin then in Jaffa in 1941. But in the midst of a successful career and a growing family, Yahya becomes seriously ill in 1943 and seeks treatment in his hometown Beirut. He sadly dies a few weeks later and is buried in the Ouza’i Cemetery in Beirut.

Rabiha and Yahya’s wedding photo with the groom cut out and reintroduced. The backstory: after the death of Lababidi, Rabiha remarried Darwish Miqdadi with whom she had two children: Salwa and Salem. Rabiha recounted in her autobiography that Salem cut out Lababidi from the photo because he did not want to see his mother with another man but his father (albeit in a photo and the real man deceased). Wedding photo Jerusalem, 16 June 1937. Lababidi’s photo: place unknown, late 1930s. Source of both photos: Rabiha Aref Daoud Dajani family photo collection.

Rabiha and Yahya Lababidi married on 16 June 1937. Here is a newspaper report of the wedding, detailing the attendees which included Lababidi’s close friend the poet Ibrahim Tuqan. al-Difa’, 4(898), 17 June 1937, p.2. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

A photograph of the employees of Palestine Broadcasting Service (PBS) taken seven months after PBS’s first radio broadcasts. Photo taken at the Palace Hotel, the building from where ‘Jerusalem Calling’ radio programmes were initially broadcast before moving to new broadcasting studios on Queen Milisande's Way in 1939. Jerusalem, October 1936. Photographer: Miltiades (M.) Savvides. Source: National Library of Israel.

Left to right: Ibrahim Tuqan and Yahya Lababidi sitting amongst the rest of PBS staff. Palace Hotel, Jerusalem, October 1936. Photographer: Miltiades (M.) Savvides. Source: National Library of Israel.

Palestine Broadcasting Service (PBS) held a musical event in the city of Jericho in which the musical band of Transjordan’s Arab Legion Army played, and it was transmitted by radio on PBS, the first time a live event was broadcast from Jericho. The event took place at the city’s main square which was known as Faisal Square. The event was co-organised by Yahya Lababidi (who was then the director of the Arabic music section at PBS) and Lababidi’s close friend and colleague Ibrahim Tuqan (who was then the director of the Arabic programming section). These are some photos of the event where Yahya Lababidi appears.

Yahya Lababidi on the far right, while Aref ‘bek’ Salim, Arab Legion Army’s representative, is reading out his speech. Jericho, 6 March 1940. Photographer: Matson Photo Service. Source: Library of Congress.

Yahya Lababidi stands to the right of the band, overseeing the event while the band plays. Jericho, 6 March 1940. Photographer: Matson Photo Service. Source: Library of Congress.

Yahya Lababidi stands in the middle, looking at Sabri Khalaf, chair of Jericho’s local council, delivering a welcome address. Jericho, 6 March 1940. Photographer: Matson Photo Service. Source: Library of Congress.

These photos were taken during a reception hosted by Crawford McNair, Palestine Broadcasting Service (PBS) Director of Programmes, at his house in Qatamon. In this photo Yahya Lababidi and Ibrahim Tuqan are having a congenial exchange. Jerusalem, 20 April 1940. Photographer: Matson Photo Service. Source: Library of Congress.

From left to right: Ibrahim Tuqan, Egyptian Vice Consul and Yahya Lababidi. Jerusalem, 20 April 1940. Photographer: Matson Photo Service. Source: Library of Congress.

Yahya Lababidi and Ibrahim Tuqan standing at the far left. Jerusalem, 20 April 1940. Photographer: Matson Photo Service. Source: Library of Congress.

Yahya Lababidi (left) and Ibrahim Tuqan enjoy a chat during a horse and camel racing event in Beer as-Sab’e (Beersheba) which was attended by around 4000 people including dignitaries amongst them the British High Commissioner Harold Alfred MacMichael. Both men are wearing headgear traditionally worn in this bedouin city. Beersheba, 4 May 1940. Photographer: Matson Photo Service. Source: Library of Congress.

The announcement of the passing of Yahya Lababidi. Filastin, 27(126-5473), 28 July 1943, p.3. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

A message of appreciation published by Yahya Lababidi’s father-in-law Aref Daoud Taher Dajani in which he thanks all those who attended the funeral or sent messages of condolence. al-Difa', 10(2519), 12 August 1943 p.3. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

Following his death, the famed Palestinian poet Abu Salma published a moving eulogy for Yahya Lababidi. al-Difa', 10(2516), 8 August 1943, p.1. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

Continuation of the eulogy. al-Difa', 10(2516), 8 August 1943, p.4. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

In 1946, Palestine Broadcasting Service (PBS) celebrated its tenth anniversary. And on this occasion, a commemorative issue of al-Muntada was published by the Public Information Office. al-Muntada, 1(8), 29 March 1946, cover page. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

In this issue, two remarkable women, Rabiha, Yahya Lababidi’s widow and Fadwa Tuqan, the late poet Ibrahim Tuqan’s sister, paid tribute to Yahya Lababidi and Ibrahim Tuqan, the two men who worked at PBS from its inception and helped shape its services and content. al-Muntada, 1(8), 29 March 1946, p.10. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

Continuation of the article. al-Muntada, 1(8), 29 March 1946, p.11. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

Continuation of the article. al-Muntada, 1(8), 29 March 1946, p.12. Source: National Library of Israel Newspaper Collection.

←