Ibrahim Al-Sallal: From the play "Hami Al-Diyar" to the operetta "Al-Sour": "Cursed is he who sells his country"

Maraf Al-Shamri

Some phrases do not end with the conclusion of a performance, as they are tied to an entire era and remain etched in the audience’s consciousness. Among them are the words spoken by the esteemed artist Ibrahim Al-Salal in the 1985 play “Hami Al-Diyar” (Guardian of the Homeland). Addressing the public directly from the stage of the Dasma Theater, he warned against inciting sectarian and tribal divisions, culminating in his famous declaration: “Cursed is he who betrays even a grain of this land’s soil… Cursed, and cursed again, is he who sells his homeland… Cursed is he who lacks loyalty to this land… Cursed is he who trades in its security and independence… Cursed is he who consumes its blessings while his loyalty lies elsewhere… Cursed, cursed, cursed.”

More than four decades later, and following a recent health crisis, Al-Salal returns to the public through the operetta “Al-Sour” (The Wall), which will be staged at the Al-Sour Theater on the occasion of its official opening on the 30th. His participation lends his presence a dimension that transcends the mere appearance of a veteran artist in a national work. This is especially true given that the production revives one of Kuwait’s most significant symbols, with “The Wall” carrying connotations of protection, solidarity, and standing united as one. At the same time, the operetta serves as a token of gratitude and appreciation to the frontline defenders who confronted recent Iranian aggression.

Al-Salal returns to the stage alongside his artistic companions Suad Abdullah and Jasem Al-Nabhan, along with a distinguished ensemble of artists including Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, Tariq Al-Ali, Khaled Amin, Mona Shaddad, and Maytham Badr, under the direction of Abdullah Abdulrasool. Together, they once again warn us against the threats Al-Salal cautioned against in 1985, in light of the changes and events that have unfolded in the region and the homeland.

In “Hami Al-Diyar,” Al-Salal addressed his audience in a direct language that left little room for flattery. He spoke of the citizen’s responsibility and the danger of allowing personal interests to override national concerns. Today, the inclusion of those same phrases in the national operetta “Al-Sour” gives them renewed life. The audience will not hear them merely as part of an old script, but delivered by their original author, more than 40 years after their first utterance. This is where the value of the experience lies: true art does not endure simply because it is old, but because it finds new reasons to be heard in every era.

A “welcome return,” O “Bukhald” (Abu Khalid), and your famous words are engraved in the heart of every citizen who loves his homeland, even as generations change, modes of expression evolve, and life around us transforms. Some messages do not need to be rewritten; it is enough for their author to return and speak them anew on a stage after more than 40 years, ensuring they remain in the memory of the children of this generous nation. Praise be to God for your safety, O Bukhald.