Bassem Youssef — the internationally known comedian and television host sometimes referred to as “Egypt’s Jon Stewart” — is coming to Inglewood this Sunday as part of a one-day festival featuring comics, music and food vendors.
Travel With Purpose (TWP) is producing the show called “Liberación Collective: Cuba & Palestine” at the historic Miracle Theater.
Comedian Dave Merheje, who is also performing at the show, told The LA Local he has a simple pitch for Sunday’s festival: “Come out and support live comedy. Take a break from your phone or TV and come out for a live show.”
Merheje, who moved to the U.S. from Canada in 2016, said he began pursuing comedy in Los Angeles during the pandemic in 2020.
“As a comedian, I speak on things that are personal, so most of the jokes center around my Middle Eastern family and the things I’ve gone through,” he added. “Good high energy and a fun time.”
Liberación Collective is an educational series that draws parallels among global issues and highlights connections among marginalized communities. Founded by Palestinian, Cuban and Colombian music publicist, professor and philanthropist Loren Medina, TWP is a nonprofit focused on financially empowering young girls and women from marginalized communities.
Sunday’s show will raise funds for an Afro-Cuban farming collective and Palestinian refugees in Jordan. It’s a big event with workshops, food, art and more than 30 vendors.
“It’s good community coming together for a good cause,” Merheje said. “Experiencing different types of art forms, food and vendors — something positive and uplifting. I think people should get together and support.”
The event will feature performances by DJ Habibeats, The Neighborhood Kids, USVSTHEM, Riela and Rheyanah, among others. Attendees can also check out an activation by JJ’88 and a comedy show hosted by Aida Rodriguez featuring Francesca Fiorentini, Merheje and Mikel Albagdad.
Additional programming includes the exclusive film premiere of “Shoot the People,” a documentary from Watermelon Pictures directed by photographer Misan Harriman. The film explores parallels between media coverage of the George Floyd protests and the May 2021 Israel-Hamas conflict, also known as the 11-day war.
The 11-day war, which began May 10, 2021, killed 261 Palestinians and 13 people in Israel, according to the United Nations, and left thousands injured and extensive damage in Gaza. The U.N. said 67 Palestinian children and 41 women were among the dead, more than 2,200 Palestinians were injured, and tens of thousands were displaced. It also reported homes and infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.
Long Beach native and rapper JJ’88 will present an art exhibit based on his four-time Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary visual album “Songs From the Hole.” Additional activities include a dabke class hosted by Kifah, a salsa class led by award-winning dancer Stephanie Stevenson — who performed with Bad Bunny at this year’s Super Bowl — and a workshop hosted by the United Liberation Front for Palestine.
Tickets for this Sunday, May 24, are available online at Liberación Collective: Cuba & Palestine tickets.
