The Women of Habibi Fest: Summer 2026

Photos by Banning Eyre

Four powerful women from SWANA (Southwest Asia/North Africa) countries regaled the crowd at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park, Brooklyn for the summer edition of what is now a New York institution, the Habibi Festival. Habibi means “my love” in Arabic, and there was love in the air during performances by Mai Elgezouli of Sudan, Franco-Algerian singer/cellist Nesrine and Tunisian-American Emel, a singer/composer who has created a truly original sound during her years based in New York.

Having spent the night before at the Brazilian Dance Party at Lincoln Center, where Quietevents delivered the music entirely through headphones worn by the crowd, it was somewhat of a relief to return to the world of big, loudspeakers blasting hot music into the cool evening air at Prospect Park. Habibi Fest’s summer offering began with a strong set from DJ Kofta of Yalla! Party Project. The lead performers of this night were all women—and so, it turned out, was most of the crowd dominating the dance floor.

Next up was Mai Elgezouli, a Sudanese singer, songwriter, filmmaker and visual artist from Omdurman, Khartoum, now resident in New York. The unique 12/8 swing of classic Sudanese big band music was evident in her terrific opening number, and she kept the crowd in thrall with her powerful voice and winning stage charisma. We look forward to learning more about her.

Then came Nesrine, singer, cellist and singer-songwriter born in Algeria, though she has since lived in France, Spain, Switzerland, New York and now Paris. Like Elgezouli, Nesrine has a rich, powerful voice, beautifully ornamented with stylish melisma. Her cello playing is passionate and thrilling. Nesrine displayed elegance, class and rock ‘n’ roll energy during her set. Both Elgezouli and Nesrine were backed by a New York-based ensemble directed by saxophonist and Habibi Fest veteran Yacine Boulares.

Closing the evening was Emel, a genre-bending singer-songwriter who came to New York from Tunis some years ago and has continued to grow in new directions ever since. She proudly announced that her 2024 album Mra was performed and produced entirely by women, a fact well known and greatly appreciated by this audience, based on the response. Emel performed with just three musicians on stage, all playing various drums. There were backing tracks as well, and the music soared through moody introspective passages and fierce dance grooves. And her stage presentation? Well, have a look at these images of the show. The Habibi Festival will return to Joe’s Pub in October for a more intimate set of concerts. This was pure summer joy in what many consider New York’s premier outdoor music venue. Kudos to Habibi and BRIC Arts for an evening of music that could only happen here.