Illustrations by Donough O’Malley www.pencilrobot.net
is quite simple. Not all Arabs are Muslims (indeed it is easy to forget that there are Arab Jews) and the vast majority that came to Argentina were Arab Christians, primarily Lebanese Maronites and Syrians. These were put upon, beleaguered communities in the early 20th Century Middle East - what was then the Ottoman Empire. “The richest man in the World was once call Salim” Persecuted by the Turks, forced into military service and besieged by the World War I Allies, they fled to the Americas. The Pampas must have seemed like the land of milk and honey compared to the famine and war stricken land they left behind. Hardworking and honest with a flair for enterprise, the new immigrants prospered and streets like
Reconquista in Buenos Aires and La Alameda in Mendoza became famous for their lines of Arab merchants selling everything from household goods to garments. Such success was repeated all over South America. The richest man in the World, the Mexican Carlos Slim, dropped a vowel from his surname and was once call Salim. We all know Shakira´s talent for hip grinding was not taught and must be genetic and who thinks Salma Hayek has an old Spanish Conquistador´s name. There are more Christian Palestines in Chile than there are in the West Bank - they even have their own football team, and that country’s textile and banking industries are largely owned by a dynasty called Yarur. Brazil boasts a cool 15 million Arab flavored citizens and one of the country’s most successful fast food chains is called Habib and dishes out shawarmas
and falafels from 300 branches. At least four South American countries have had Arab presidents. In Argentina Los Turcos (such was the misnomer put on them by the locals) stopped coming in the 1950s but the thousands that traveled beforehand have left their indelible mark on Argentine culture. Their subtle influence can be seen in this country’s food, music and culture. Recently there has been a spike in Syrian visitors with a 500% rise in applications for residency permits. This is due to the civil war and the sad events in cities such as Aleppo and Homms. The Syrian refugee crisis is spilling a little into Argentina. The new numbers will never match the original wave of immigrants but those that do come to this strange land seeking out distant cousins will be pleasantly surprised. It is not so strange nor distant. 11