From Umm Kulthum to Elissa and Haifa Wehbe...a festival in Berlin brings together icons of Arab art with drag performances

In queer culture in the Levant, the term “adira” is used colloquially to describe a character with a strong presence, characterized by strength, success, and achievement.

This name is also borne by an artistic and cultural group based in the German capital, Berlin, which organizes events and musical evenings that celebrate the diversity of queer Arab culture.

The group is keen to emphasize the inclusion of non-Arab ethnic minorities, and people with diverse identities and roots in the Southwest Asia and North Africa region.

One of the group's most prominent events is the ADIRA Drag Festival, which celebrated its third edition in Berlin in late October. This year, the festival carried the slogan “Who is your favorite diva?” (Who's Your Diva?!), bringing together male and female drag performers, inspired by famous artistic figures from the Eastern Mediterranean region, who over time turned into icons in queer culture.

Among these personalities is Kawkab Al Sharq, Umm Kulthum, Turkish star Bulent Ersoy, and Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe.

As for the artist Hassandra, one of the founding figures of the “Qadira” group and the festival, she chose to embody the character of the Lebanese star Elissa.

Imperfect stars... between admiration and criticism

Hassandra says that highlighting her Lebanese and Arab identity and culture through her artistic works represents an essential aspect of her experience. She explains: “It is very important for me to bring my Lebanese-Arab identity and culture into what I present, because I think it is a very beautiful culture, and it includes many sparkling stars full of glamor and beauty.”

Hassandra believes that Elissa represents an interesting artistic personality, because of the contrast between the romantic nature of her songs and her personality, which is known for its frankness and boldness. She said in an interview with DW ahead of the October 30 show that Elissa's songs are "very romantic, sincere, emotional and soft, and very similar to the atmosphere of Adele's songs." But she added that Elissa's personality in public life seems completely different, as she is known to be strong, frank, and direct, and does not hesitate to express her opinions.

The Lebanese star is also famous for her stances on political issues in Lebanon, as well as declaring her support for LGBT communities in the Middle East, while her outspoken political stances on other issues have sparked repeated controversy in the Arab world.

Hassandra addresses these contradictions in her presentation during the festival, including some of the controversial political positions expressed by Elissa.

She believes that one of the festival's main messages is to reconsider the ideal image that the public sometimes gives to its favorite stars. “As queer people, we tend to idealize female pop stars, but these female stars are not inherently ideal,” she says. For her, the show provides an opportunity to reread the legacy of these stars from a critical perspective, not limited to the world of art. “This critical outlook can be applied to the outside world as well,” she adds. “No one should blindly follow any politician, political party, pop star or activist.”

From Beirut to Berlin... Art is a means of expressing identity

Hassandra was born in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in 1994. She studied theater and acting at the Lebanese University, before moving to Berlin in 2017. She describes her decision to move to Germany as largely impulsive, when she was twenty-two years old. She says that the economic situation in Lebanon was already bad at the time, before it deteriorated further in subsequent years.

In Berlin, Hassandra became increasingly involved in the independent art scene and queer nightlife, finding drag shows as an additional means of self-expression. Through performances that combine intense theatrical performance, political humour, grotesque aesthetics and emotional moments, Hassandra seeks to challenge traditional perceptions of gender and identity.

Her works address themes of homeland, nostalgia, displacement, and queer Arab culture, themes that also form the core of the “Qadira” project.

Art to reject hatred and racism

In 2023, Hassandra founded the group “Qadira” in collaboration with Syrian-German DJ and cultural producer Zuhair Jazmati, known artistically as “xanax_attax”. Through dialogues, artistic performances, and musical events, the group seeks to promote collective participation and build community bonds between individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds and identities.

These spaces gain special importance in light of the rise of Islamophobia and homophobia, coinciding with the growing influence of the extreme right. For members of the queer Arab communities, the importance of these events is not limited to entertainment, but also extends to providing a sense of belonging and mutual support.

This feeling became even more important for Hassandra in the wake of a deadly Islamist terrorist attack that occurred during gay pride events associated with the Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin in July, according to the report. Hassandra says that the incident put her in a conflict between her different identities, explaining that a queer Arab person may find himself vulnerable to racism in the wake of such events. She adds: "This is why I think it is important for us, queer Arabs, to say that we are sad about what happened, but we also reject any racism that arises as a result."

Hassandra believes that Arab society is often used as a scapegoat in discussions related to various events. Instead of allowing the attack to fuel hatred and racism, she calls for action to make Germany a safer place for everyone. She concludes by saying: “There is a place for everyone. It is a big country.”