Reclaiming Yaffa: Mama Ganuush Dances Ya Tal3een

This short film is a powerful act of cultural reclamation and artistic futurism. It envisions a world where the historical Nakba never occurred, and Palestine's cultural heart, the city of Yaffa (Jaffa), remains unoccupied and thriving. In this space, queer Palestinian joy is not just possible but is a central, celebrated part of the cultural fabric.

The piece features Mama Ganuush, a Palestinian-African trans drag artist, community organizer, and activist, whose work is a potent expression of Palestinian queer futurism. Here, they perform an improvisational dance to the song "Ya Tal3een" (يا طالعين), a traditional folk melody from the Galilee region of northern Palestine.

The Artist: Mama Ganuush

Mama Ganuush (She/They) is a disabled, Muslim, trans Palestinian performance artist and activist whose work is deeply rooted in Palestinian liberation and intersectional resistance. Their art directly addresses and challenges colonialism, advocating for queer, disabled, and Palestinian rights.

Born to a father displaced from Yaffa during the Nakba and a mother displaced from Gaza during the Naksa, Mama Ganuush’s life and art are inseparable from their heritage. Their performance style draws from the elegance of Egyptian golden-era dance and Palestinian folk traditions, blending them with a vision of what Palestinian art could have become without colonization. This specific performance is a realization of a lifelong dream: to imagine a queer Palestinian dance unfolding inside the iconic Cinema Al-Hambra in Yaffa, a place their father knew before 1948.

The Song: "Ya Tal3een" (يا طالعين)

"Ya Tal3een," which translates to "Going Up the Mountain," is a traditional Palestinian song originating from the Galilee region. During the British Mandate period of the 1930s, it was sung by Palestinian women as a form of coded resistance.

They would sing it while visiting their loved ones imprisoned by the British authorities, using a technique called Imlolaah—a secret language formed by adding the syllable "L" and trilling sounds to mask the words. Within the seemingly joyful melody, they hid subversive messages, reassuring prisoners that freedom fighters would soon liberate them. Today, the song is a powerful anthem of resilience, hope, and the enduring spirit of Palestinian liberation.

The Venue: Cinema Al-Hambra, Yaffa (The Cinematic Dream)

The setting for this performance is the historic Alhambra Cinema in Yaffa, Palestine (now Jaffa, Israel). Designed by Lebanese architect Elias Al-Mor, the Art Deco building opened its doors in May 1937 and was one of the most luxurious cinemas in all of Palestine.

This was not just a movie theater; it was a vibrant cultural institution and a beloved community hub. The Alhambra hosted legendary Arab artists, including the iconic singers Umm Kulthum and Farid al-Atrash, drawing both local Arab and Jewish families to its grand hall. It was a place of shared culture and memory before the Nakba of 1948 irrevocably changed the landscape of Palestine.

The Vision: A Free Yaffa

This video reclaims the Alhambra as a Palestinian space of memory and future possibility. By centering a queer, trans Palestinian body in joyful, defiant movement, Mama Ganuush challenges the narratives of tragedy and occupation. They present Palestinians not as subjects of suffering, but as architects of a liberated future.

"Reclaiming Yaffa: Mama Ganuush Dances Ya Tal3een" is more than a performance; it is a testament to the unbreakable connection between queer liberation and Palestinian freedom. It asserts that the true spirit of Yaffa—a spirit of art, culture, and unapologetic joy—can never be erased.