If I Must Die by The Mavrix - Official Music Video

If I Must Die
The Mavrix F/T Mahtaab.
Music composed by Jeremy Karodia.
Words composed by Refaat Alareer and Mohammed Moussa.

South African band, The Mavrix, composed the music of their new song, "If I Must Die" by using the poetry of Palestinians Refaat Alareer and Mohammed Moussa.

This is the fourth collaboration of solidarity between South African and Palestinian artists.

Refaat Alareer was a professor of English Literature at the Islamic University of Gaza. He was also a poet. In Nov 2023, displaced by the genocide in Gaza, he wrote a poem, "If I Must Die", as a dedication to his daughter, Shymaa. The two were separated by displacement when Israel began their atrocities.
He was killed in a targeted attack by Israeli Occupation Forces in December 2023.
In April 2024 Shyma herself was killed by the IOF along with her newborn son and husband.
Refaat never met his grandson.

Mohammed Moussa is the founder of the Gaza Poets Society, a collective group of poets from Gaza. Known as the Gaza Guy, he also hosts the Gaza Guy podcasts. He is a published poet with two anthologies and has participated in many others.
Moe's poetry reflects the collective resilience and steadfastness of Palestinians in a genocide. The surrealism of his words underscores the reality of Gazans trying to survive.
"Screams beneath the rubble,
Neither alive nor dead" as he wrote.

The Mavrix was formed in 1984 composing music of resistance against apartheid in South Africa. Formed by Ayub Mayet and Jeremy Karodia, the band has provided a platform for many young artists to collaborate with the band.
Mahtaab Hayat, a young lecturer, singer and activist was invited to feature as vocalist on the song.

Mahtaab was also responsible for bringing in young activist/artists Justin Blanckensee and Lukas Van Garderen to remix the song and Alaina Khaleck to produce the video.

Years later The Mavrix' music is still based on resistance to injustice around the world.

Refaat's poem asks us if we stand back in the face of injustice or stand in solidarity. Moe's poetry reflects loneliness in the lack of our solidarity that further strengthens Palestinian steadfastness and resolve.

The Mavrix believe we are not a prescription for Palestinians.
We are just solidarity.

All proceeds go to Gift of The Givers for their work in Gaza.

Gratitude and thanx to Doctor Mahtaab Hayat, Ned Hassen, the Alareer family, Moe Moussa, Alaina Khaleck and Justin Blanckensee for their passionate resistance to injustice.

A special thank you to my brother Ahmed Karodia.


Credits:
If I Must Die.
The Mavrix F/T Mahtaab.

Words by Refaat Alareer and Mohammed Moussa.
Music composed by Jeremy Karodia.
Vocals: Mahtaab Hayat and Jeremy Karodia.
Guitars and piano: Jeremy Karodia.
Arranged and produced by Jeremy Karodia.
Additional composers: Justin Blanckensee and Lukas Van Garderen.
Mixed and mastered by Greg Nottingham @jazzworx
and Ravesh Surjoo @NLB Productions.
Video produced by Alaina Khaleck.
Media and marketing: Mohammed Ziyaad "Ned" Hassen.

LYRICS:

VERSE
And the sea swallows itself
Shed a tear into its soul
Each time that I cry out
The world hushes me with stones
In yesterday's window
The graves of little ones
Echoes of silent voices
While their faces are gone
When the sky disarms itself
A small piece of heaven
Longs upon the ruins
As I return to my grave

CHORUS
If I must die will you tell my tale?
you must live to tell my story
If I must die

If I must die let it be a tale
let it bring hope to bring back love
If I must die

VERSE
We don't speak your words
The Gazans you don't hear
Screams beneath the rubble
Neither alive nor dead
I'm not ready to die again
On the hill of a seized tomorrow
To leave my mother in a last hold
To sleep forevermore
To speak the tongue of birds
Rise to a heaven I knew
With no name home or equal
As though I am newly born
CHORUS