Growing up, Libya was a place I first, and almost exclusively, heard of during the years my parents were glued to Al Jazeera circa 2011. Too young before that to carry any specific interest towards the North African State, it was only after the inception of what is now known as the “Arab Spring” that it became more than just a name I’d hear in passing. The protests, the chaos, and the fall of Gaddafi became the only things I associated Libya with. And that perception stuck with me ever since, up until I received an invitation to check out the country for myself during the 2024 Benghazi Summer Festival—a two-week-long celebration of all things music, art, and culture.
Running from Aug. 1 to 15, with an extra day added to welcome Egyptian actor-turned-rapper Mohamed Ramadan as a last-minute headliner, the Benghazi Festival transformed the city in ways plenty could not have expected. For 16 days, the Mediterranean city was, after over a decade, illuminated not by the harsh glare of its past, but instead, by the energy of some of the region’s hottest artists— which included the likes of Moroccan MC ElGrandeToto, Egyptian superstar Wegz, and Tunisian disc-spinner DJBlackJack— who performed before a crowd that was probably too young to remember Libya’s last cultural high. Any stereotypes I had going in? Gone in a flash as the city’s story was changing at eye’s sight. At the helm of this cultural renaissance was Ahmed Kwifya, the organizer of BSF, who managed to pull off an event that was as ambitious as it was transformative.
@milleworlddotcom #Benghazi Summer Festival’s first night featuring @ELGRANDETOTO 🇲🇦 @Wegz @Samara and more #benghazisummerfestival #libya🇱🇾 ♬ البخت – Wegz
“When I used to tell my friends that one day we’ll make something happen at Ad-Darrath, they would laugh, and call me crazy,” Kwifya told MILLE in between two events. “Four years later, that materialized once Ajyalna Foundation got involved. They believed in the project and added the family aspect of things,” he explained.
Ajyalna Foundation, the festival’s main financier, introduced the circus, the literary competition, and, more broadly, the family-friendly vibe—elements that Kwifya hadn’t initially planned or intended to include. Yet, he’s glad they did, as it made the whole experience feel more inclusive. In a country where conservative thinking still runs deep, their help was definitely a game-changer. Far from wanting to exclude anyone, Kwifya was focused on creating an event that truly brought young people together.
“We thought the lineup needed big names, so we developed a strategy where we asked people on social media to vote for who they’d like to see. Each country in the region had a lot of names, and from there, we selected those who got the most +1 votes,” he revealed, emphasizing how crucial it was to listen to locals, who rarely get the chance to see such artists live.
“It’s important because those lucky enough to travel can see these artists abroad, but sometimes, due to visa issues, it’s impossible. The idea of seeing these artists in Libya is like a dream, something that never seemed possible. Our relationship with the artists helped, but the main question we had to consider was whether they wanted to come or not,” the 36-year-old shared.
@milleworlddotcom #BENGHAZI STADIUM SINGING ALONG ‘MGHAYER’ WITH THE ONE AND ONLY @ELGRANDETOTO 🇲🇦 ♬ original sound – milleworlddotcom
“When we revealed the first wave of artists, people joked, ‘You’re doing an A.I. festival,’ that’s how incredulous they were. When they actually saw it happening—first with Moh Milano—they were like, ‘He’s been here before.’ Then with Ronaldinho, Wegz, Toto, they realized that it was anything but A.I,” he recounted, highlighting how surreal it was for everyone to witness such a lineup take form while being involved in its process. “I remember seeing memes fly across social media claiming that we were bringing Youtube to Benghazi, which made us happy as it, in some twisted way, means that we’re on the right path,” he mused.
Speaking on the impact he and the festival are having, the journalist-turned-events organizer revealed that the internet played a huge part in making it all possible, from building hype and connecting with artists to engaging the audience in ways they could have never imagined.
“The power of the internet is everything. Social media is the way to go nowadays. When an artist’s fan base sees that their favorite came here and had a safe, positive experience, it encourages others to follow. It’s quicker and more impactful than relying on traditional tourism, which requires much more time, energy, and effort,” he said, adding that once the local government saw he was genuinely committed to making BSF a reality, they fully backed him, offering support in every way possible.
@milleworlddotcom @AFROTO | عفروتو AND @STORMY ♬ original sound – milleworlddotcom
As for how the festival’s tickets were priced, Kwifya revealed that it was quite tricky balancing affordability for locals with avoiding resale traps, which have caused significant issues over the years.
“We looked at similar festivals with comparable line ups and deliberately priced ours lower. Previous experiences made us want to find a better middle ground, especially when Balti came to perform. Prices were around $4 and sold out within minutes. But just as quickly, the black market was flooded with tickets at inflated prices,” he shared, expressing his desire to strike a better balance in future editions.
“This is my city; I’ve experienced the sweet before the sour, so representing it was necessary for me. We don’t want this to be the first and only edition but the first of many. Our goal is to make it an annual event, for these things to become normal. Life is back, and that’s all that matters.”
