Charif Megarbane - Habibi Funk 030: Hawalat Vinyl LP

Taking inspiration from hawala, the informal system of money transfers used in countries with unstable economies, Megarbane reimagines the concept as an artistic exchange spanning cultures, generations, and geographies. This spirit of creative movement is embodied in the album’s amalgamative nature, featuring contributions from an international lineup of artists, including London-based jazz vocalist Sahra Gure, Italian-Tunisian singer LNDFK, Neapolitan pianist Dario Bassolino, Berlin beatmaker and violinist FloFilz, and an 18-piece orchestral arrangement by Swedish composer Sven Wunder.

Recorded across multiple locations—from Beirut to Brooklyn, Stockholm to a rural French commune—the album’s sonic journey mirrors its thematic premise. Musically, Hawalat traverses a rich array of textures and temperaments. The opener, Hanadi, is a percussive, Somali-inspired groove with wordless vocals and soaring saxophone lines. Tracks like Al Dollarji and Al Bahriye capture Megarbane’s signature Mediterranean sound, while Helia, performed with the Stockholm Studio Orchestra, showcases his cinematic sensibilities. Jana, an homage to the late Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté, transforms Megarbane’s guitar into a kora-like instrument, reflecting his commitment to experimentation.

Following Marzipan (2023), which turned inward to explore the heart of Lebanon, Hawalat expands outward, engaging with themes of diaspora, exile, and artistic migration. “As much as Marzipan was a portrait of Lebanon from the inside, Hawalat picks up where it left off,” Megarbane explains. The album avoids nostalgic recreations of the past, instead situating itself firmly in the present with a sound that is both timeless and contemporary. Through Hawalat, Megarbane reaffirms his place as a global musical storyteller, allowing influences and traditions to cross borders with fluidity and spontaneity.