Cultural activities
The activities of alumni branches in Latin America were varied and vibrant, encompassing both social and cultural dimensions. The branches organized literary gatherings where poets—including Chafic, Fawzi, and Riad Ma’luf, sons of prominent scholar Isa Iskandar Ma’luf, as well as Rashid al-Khuri, the renowned “Villager Poet,” among others—recited their literary works
For some time, the São Paulo Branch members organized two distinct lecture series that highlighted their commitment to public service. The first focused on medical and hygienic subjects, presented by Mrs. Philomena Jabara, Dr. Zakhariyyah Haddad, and Dr. Fadlou Haidar, delivered in clear and accessible form. The second addressed economic and business matters, by experts in the field serving as speakers. Together, these initiatives reflected the vitality of the branch and its dedication to advancing AUB’s ideals of knowledge and service to the community.
Alumni branches also paid tribute to distinguished figures such as Jurji Zaidan, Nami and Roberto Jafet, and AUB professor Jabr Dumit, highlighting their intellectual, economic, and cultural legacy. Their initiatives extended further, from concerts by Diana Takeddine to active engagement with the Arabic press. Alumni spearheaded influential publications such as Al Rabita, Al-Afkar, founded by Said Abou Jamra, and Al-Jaliyah, a magazine in São Paulo acquired by Tawfic and Salim Kurban from its founder, the late Sami Rasi, himself an AUB alumnus. These journals became vital platforms for the Arab immigrant community in Latin America, particularly for sharing news and highlighting the activities of the alumni branches.
These journals not only chronicled the daily life and experiences of the Arab diaspora, but also documented the initiatives, gatherings, and achievements of AUB alumni branches. Through their pages, they highlighted how alumni and their wider communities preserved cultural traditions, fostered intellectual exchange, and created social networks that strengthened their sense of identity and belonging. In this way, the journals underscored the enduring role of AUB graduates as cultural, intellectual, and social anchors within the Arab communities of Latin America.
A notable example is Tawfic Kurban, who in 1933 authored a book on Lebanese Syrian emigrants in Brazil, offering an invaluable record of their experiences and legacy. Beyond such written contributions, alumni also organized cultural activities, including film screenings about the United Arab Republic and Lebanon, as well as another featuring detailed scenes of the American University of Beirut and its modern hospital.