Tunisia mourns loss of Yasser Jradi, a singer of love and revolution

Tunisia's singer of love and revolution, Yasser Jradi (also, Jeradi), has passed away at 54, but his revolutionary music likely continue to inspire a nation searching for democracy and love.

On 12 August, the artist's family announced his death after a brief, sudden battle with health issues. The news came as a blow to his many fans, who eagerly awaited his performance that week. Just a day before his passing, Jradi had issued a heartfelt apology, announcing the postponement of his much-anticipated tour, "Yasser Mhaba" (So Much Love), until he could fully recover.

Born in 1970, Yasser was named after the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat by his father, a former volunteer for the Palestinian cause. From then on, his story became intertwined with the revolution, his homeland, and Palestine.

"The first song I wrote was inspired by the tragic death of Mohamed Dura in his father's arms. I called it, 'Silence,'" he recalled in a recent interview with Mosaique FM.

This early work set the stage for a career merging personal and political themes.

Blending traditional Tunisian sounds with contemporary influences, Jradi sang about his lover and his homeland's betrayals— often alluding to both in many of his tracks.

With a soft voice, lyrical rhymes, and signature smile, his music left little room for sadness among his fans and ample space for hope as he was sung in the chorus, between cursing poverty and the state.

Jradi's commitment to social causes extended beyond his music. As the founder of the cultural association "Kif Kif Tunisia", he championed equality and free art access for Tunisians around the country. 

Although his influence was not rooted in direct political activism, his lyrics became anthems for Tunisians, during the gruelling daily commutes or while desperately searching for a bag of sugar amid the food crisis.

Songs like "Dima, Dima" (Always, Always) and "Chbik Nsitini?" (Why Did You Forget Me?), along with revolutionary anthems such as "Enti Essout" (You Are the Voice) and "Ghneya Lik" (A Song for You), solidified his place in the hearts of many in Tunisia and beyond.

Before he left, Jradi took a road trip on his bicycle around Tunisia in commemoration of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish's line, "The road is the way."

Covering 1,600 kilometres, Jradi performed with his guitar and his "Darwish bicycle" for hundreds of people in marginalised villages around the North African country.

On Tuesday, 13 August, hundreds flock to his hometown of Gabes to bid a final farewell to the artist.

Draped in Tunisian and Palestinian flags, the crowd chanted: "I swear by the sailors' oath, by the sun, the wind, and the clouds. I swear by the treacherous wave, No, no, we will not repent for your love (Tunisia)." This was a famous verse from a song he released in 2017 during a time of soaring migration and despair amid an ongoing economic crisis.

"Tunisians have lost many from the generation of dreams and grand illusions of legitimate change and making the world a better place. The harshness of the world exhausted them", wrote Tunisia-based journalist Imad Stitou.

"Their beautiful souls will forever be a guiding compass amidst chaos and loss," added Stitou, as many activists and public figures remembered the late artist.