(MENAFN- Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo –“I came to say a word, and I shall say it now. But if death prevents its uttering, it will be said tomorrow, for tomorrow never leaves a secret in the book of eternity. I came to live in the glory of love and the light of beauty, which are the reflections of God.”

With excerpts from his work, like the one above, and an almost poetic reflection on how he thought and perceived life, Brazilian philosopher Lúcia Helena Galvão Maya brought to an audience in São Paulo on Friday evening (31) a glimpse of the thoughts of the renowned Lebanese writer and painter Khalil Gibran.

The ceremony at the headquarters of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC ), organized by the Brazil-Lebanon Cultural Association, aimed to launch two exhibitions that will soon take place in São Paulo to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of the Gibran Museum in Lebanon.

Musical group 1001 Noites performed

“Everyone knows he was the great writer, poet, painter, mystic, and philosopher, born in 1883 (in Lebanon) and who passed away in 1931 in New York, and who had the opportunity to be a bridge between two worlds,” Maya also said. The philosopher spoke about Gibran's most famous work, The Prophet.“The voice of Al Mustafa, who is the prophet, is the voice of the human essence, of every human being,” Maya stated.

The consul general of Lebanon in São Paulo, Rudy El Azzi, also spoke at the gathering about Gibran. A reader of the writer himself, the consul recalled that Gibran was also an immigrant.“He also expressed in his works the feeling of migration, the longing for his roots,” said the diplomat.“Through his writing, he expressed the emotions and longing felt by every immigrant who leaves their homeland to go far away in search of their future,” he explained.

The consul of Lebanon in São Paulo spoke at the event

The launch of the exhibitions celebrating the anniversary of the Lebanese museum also featured a performance by the musical group 1001 Noites. Among other pieces, the group played compositions by the Egyptian Sayed Darwish. All the music performed, using the riqq, qanun, and flute, had previously been interpreted and made famous by the voice of Lebanese singer Fairuz, the group reported.

The Vice President of Marketing of the ABCC, Silvia Antibas, also spoke at the launch and welcomed everyone to the institution's headquarters. Antibas highlighted the work, which she called“tireless,” of Lody Brais and Nouha Brais Nader on behalf of Gibran. Lody is the president of the Brazil-Lebanon Cultural Association, and Nouha is the curator of the exhibitions.

Antibas represented the president of the ABCC

In addition to Silvia Antibas, the event included participation from the ABCC's Vice President of International Relations & Secretary-General, Mohamad Orra Mourad, former president Rubens Hannun, and Board members Alessandra Frisso, Arthur Jafet, and Riad Younes.

The exhibitions celebrating the museum's anniversary will feature 21 photographic enlargements of the Cedars region, where Bisharré, Gibran's hometown, is located, as well as the Lebanese artist's main paintings. The shows will take place at Casa das Rosas from November 26 this year to January 5, 2026, and at the São Paulo State Immigration Museum from May 5 to 31, 2026.

More information here.

Translated by Guilherme Miranda

Isaura Daniel/ANBAIsaura Daniel/ANBAIsaura Daniel/ANBAIsaura Daniel/ANBA

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