Sethrida Tawk Geagea (Arabic: ستريدا طوق جعجع), is a Lebanese politician and MP representing the district of Bsharri.[1]
Sethrida Geagea | |
---|---|
ستريدا جعجع | |
Member of the Lebanese Parliament | |
Assumed office 28 June 2005 | |
Constituency | Bsharri (from 28 June 2005) |
Chairwoman of the Lebanese Forces | |
In office 1994–2005 | |
Preceded by | Samir Geagea |
Succeeded by | Samir Geagea |
Personal details | |
Born | Sethrida Tawk May 15, 1967 Kumasi, Ghana |
Political party | Lebanese Forces |
Spouse(s) | Samir Geagea (m. 1991) |
Education | Lebanese American University Political Science |
Early life
Sethrida Geagea is from a prominent Maronite Lebanese Tawk family that owned businesses[2] in West Africa (Ghana). Her political activism began while at the Lebanese American University (LAU) [3] and it led to meeting the leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, whom she married in 1991. She earned a BS in Political Science in 1994.
Cedars International Festival
In June 2015, MP Sethrida Geagea relaunched the Cedars International Festival (CIF) after almost half a century of inactivity. The festival, held since 1964, was interrupted in the early seventies due to the circumstances that were controlling Lebanon at that time.[4] The first year’s edition, themed “Language of the Spirit”, featured renowned local artists including Wael Kfoury, Elissa, Najwa Karam, Joseph Attieh, Michel Fadel, Abir Nehme & the Notre Dame University Choir led by Father Khalil Rahme, the Mafi Metlo comedy show and rap group Mn el-Ekher.[5]
In 2016, the second year’s festival paid tribute to Bsharri’s legendary philosopher Gibran Khalil Gibran. In her opening speech, MP Sethrida Geagea renewed determination to entrench the Lebanese further in their land and their nation. The event opened with an orchestral performance by Lebanese iconic singer Majida El Roumi,[6] followed by a concert featuring Lebanese superstars Nancy Ajram and Assi El Hallani[7] and closed with a two-night dancing performance by the internationally-acclaimed Caracalla Dance Theatre.[8]
The 2017 edition was a tribute to the Cedar tree of Lebanon, the country’s national symbol. During the opening ceremony attended by the Maronite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, MP Sethrida Geagea greeted the Lebanese Cedar tree from Bsharri to Barouk, Jaj, Tannourine and every spot on the Lebanese soil. The event opened with a 3D mapping show followed by an orchestral operetta featuring twelve of Lebanon’s biggest singers. The operetta, written by poet Nizar Francis and composed by Michel Fadel, was performed by Walid Toufic, Ghassan Saliba, Najwa Karam, Nancy Ajram, Moeen Charif, Melhem Zein, Abir Nehme, Joseph Attieh, Ramy Ayach, Zein El Omr, Tania Kassis and Eliya Francis.[9] The third edition closed with a performance by Lebanese soprano Hiba Tawaji, orchestrated by Oussama Rahbani, directed by Marwan Rahbani and included 120 musicians, dancers and artists.[10]
In 2018, the Cedars International Festival opened with a historical concert by world sensation Shakira, part of her El Dorado world tour. The concert, attended by thousands of fans, was highlighted by Shakira’s speech, where she said she was proud to be singing in the land of her grandparents.[11] This festival’s edition, tributed by MP Sethrida Geagea to five Lebanse World Heritage sites (Kadisha Valley & Forest of the Cedars of God, Tyre, Byblos, Baalbek, Anjar) [12] marked the return of legendary singer Majida El Roumi to the CIF in a performance that included a 3D-enabled operetta entitled “Hal Arz Min Talo”. The operetta, featuring 80 professional dancers, 70 orchestral musicians and 60 choir singers, was written by poet Nizar Francis, composed by Joseph Khalife, arranged by Marc Abou Naoum and led by maestro Lubnan Baalbaki. [13]
In 2019, the Cedars International Festival opened with an orchestral performance by the renowned genre-bursting Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist Andrea Bocelli. The concert, featuring MP Sethrida Geagea presenting Bocelli with an 18-karat gold medal, was sold out in less than two days. In this struggle-themed edition of the festival, MP Sethrida Geagea said “The struggle of the Lebanese people in their country on the human, social and livelihood levels ... because in our beloved homeland we all share a state of daily struggle, the citizen’s struggle to stay and survive and live with dignity.” [14] The festival concluded with Smile Lebanon, a play performed by Lebanon’s biggest names in comedy. [15]
Cedar’s Mountain Foundation
In June 2007, MP Sethrida Geagea founded Cedar’s Mountain Foundation (CMF), a non profit, non-governmental organization, dedicated to sustainable development of Bsharri caza on multiple levels (economic, social, agricultural, educational, environmental).
The construction of Dbayeh-located Student’s House was completed in April 2018. It’s a $16 million, 6,500 m2 student housing project, consisting of 121 rooms and multiple high-end amenities.[16][17]
In April 2020, CMF’s president MP Sethrida Geagea announced in a press conference the kickoff of the finalization of Bsharri’s governmental hospital. [18] The Antoine Al-Khoury Malakeh Tawk governmental hospital launch has been possible thanks to the agreement signed between CMF and "Abniah" construction company. Donations from good-will and generous individuals and entities, some desiring to remain undisclosed, amounted to USD 1,200,000 and LBP 50,000,000. The initial launch cost has been cut by approximately USD 710,000, thus reducing the amount from USD 3,057,000 to USD 2,346,000, thanks to MP Geagea's efforts and solid public ties. [19]
See also
- Lebanese Forces
- Samir Geagea
- List of Lebanese Forces Deputies in the Lebanese Parliament
References
- ^ Members of the 2009–17 Lebanese Parliament
- ^ "Top 10 Most Gorgeous and Mesmerizing Female Politicians | GetsMag - Part 5". getsmag.com. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
- ^ "Sethrida Tawk Geagea | Who is She in Lebanon". whoisshe.lau.edu.lb. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "Cedars International Festival 2016 « Lebtivity". Lebtivity. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ "Cedars International Festival to be relaunched this year | Arts & Ent , Culture | THE DAILY STAR". www.dailystar.com.lb. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ Agency, National News. "Cedars International Festival kicks off in Bcharre, pays tribute to Gebran Khalil Gebran". National News Agency. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ SOBEIRUT. "Nancy Ajram & Assi Hellani at Cedars Festival". Secrets of Beirut - SOBEIRUT. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ SOBEIRUT. "Kan Ya Ma Kan Live at Cedars Festival". Secrets of Beirut - SOBEIRUT. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ "افتتاح مهرجانات الأرز الدولية بأوبريت تكريم الأرزة". www.lebanondebate.com. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ "لطيفة مهنئة أسامة الرحباني وهبة طوجي: هذا العرض سيذكره التاريخ". الإمارات نيوز (in Arabic). 2017-08-06. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
- ^ Barrington, Lisa (2018-07-13). "Shakira sings at 'magical' cedars of Lebanon, land of her ancestors". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "ماجدة الرومي تغني في مهرجانات الأرز بلبنان". www.aljazeera.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "خاص: ماجدة الرومي في سابقة فنية... مباشرةً من الأرز". MTV Lebanon (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "Bocelli serenades Cedars International Festival | Arts & Ent , Culture | THE DAILY STAR". www.dailystar.com.lb. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ LBTAdmin (2019-06-02). "A Guide To Lebanon's Summer Festivals". Lebanon Traveler. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
- ^ "CMF STUDENTS HOUSE | Akl Architects". Archello. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ "'القوات' تفتتح 'بيت الطالب' السبت في الضبيه". annahar.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ للإعلام, الوكالة الوطنية. "جعجع أعلنت جمع تبرعات لإكمال بناء المستشفى الحكومي في بشري وتمنت على وزير الصحة القبول بتسميته باسم أنطوان الخوري ملكة طوق". الوكالة الوطنية للإعلام (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ للإعلام, الوكالة الوطنية. "جعجع أعلنت جمع تبرعات لإكمال بناء المستشفى الحكومي في بشري وتمنت على وزير الصحة القبول بتسميته باسم أنطوان الخوري ملكة طوق". الوكالة الوطنية للإعلام (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-06-03.