Wallaat - Palestinian Music Rooted in Akka
Wallaat is a Palestinian band formed in 2002 in the old city of Akka by poet, composer, and visual artist Kher Fody. Over more than two decades, the band has developed a distinctive sound that brings together Palestinian musical traditions, Arabic instruments, and sharp, often playful songwriting. Their music draws directly from everyday life, memory, displacement, identity, and the social realities of Palestinians in historic Palestine, while maintaining a warmth and accessibility that makes their songs deeply personal as well as widely relatable.
Music & Heritage
Wallaat’s music is deeply connected to the cultural memory of Akka and the wider Palestinian experience. Traditional instruments such as the oud and violin sit alongside guitar, percussion, bass, and vocals, creating a sound that feels rooted in the past while remaining contemporary. Their lyrics move between humor, nostalgia, social commentary, and resistance, often using ordinary stories and familiar images to explore much larger questions of belonging and change. From memories of grandparents, old homes, and disappearing neighborhoods to songs about injustice, displacement, and hope, Wallaat preserves Palestinian stories through music while giving them a living, evolving form. Their third studio album, Ala Bal Meen (2026), continues this tradition, bringing together material developed over several years and reflecting the band's enduring connection to Akka, its people, and its cultural heritage.
Their third studio album, Ala Bal Meen, released in 2026, brings together years of songwriting and musical development. The album continues Wallaat's exploration of Palestinian life through songs that can be playful, nostalgic, political, and deeply personal. Tracks such as Zallouk Ya 'Inab reflect on the loss of land and the destruction of things once considered symbols of abundance and rootedness, while other songs look back toward family, childhood, and the changing landscapes of Akka. Across the record, Wallaat maintains its characteristic ability to speak about serious realities without losing melody, character, or humanity.
Recent Releases
