The answers are complicated.

At 57, this multi-faceted artist-activist from Lebanon is actually a UNESCO Artist For Peace. But in his own land, he's seen as an outspoken proponent of freedom of expression. Then in America, he's suspect simply for his ties to the Arab world. All this has only pushed Khalife to try harder to win wider respect for the ancient traditions of Arabic culture and his own attempts to renew its music. In today's world, that makes him a bit of a rebel, and Khalife admits that role comes with considerable frustrations.

"It's sad that my political ostracization and the banning of my music or ideas is not only pertinent to the Arab world but also the United States, where I am under great scrutiny and questioned for long hours in my touring."

On his current North American tour, which includes six Canadian dates, Khalife was forced to switch concert venues in San Diego after a community centre cancelled a booking with his promoters on the grounds his appearance would be "divisive and unbalanced." Earlier this year, a Khalife concert was denounced in the Persian Gulf island nation of Bahrain. Tunisia recently banned his music from the stage, radio and television. Then again, these might be minor obstacles to an artist who performed in bombed-out venues in his homeland during the Lebanese civil war.

"Maybe I'm a rebel, a rebel against injustice and anything that's stagnant, that's not evolving. I'm a rebel in music too because I don't believe it's frozen in time and space. Society and its cultural traditions must continue to grow with human evolution, but for saying that, I am persecuted. In the end, it just gives me the impetus to strive even harder to present my work, to talk about the common humanity between our people and the need for peace."

Making music is about more than trying to validate his culture.

"Arabic culture doesn't need to justify itself, its history or its past contribution to civilization. What I want to do is work with other cultures to promote a better society that isn't predicated on the fear of each other."

Khalife was born in the seaport village of Amchit, Lebanon, in 1950. He recalls being "enchanted by sounds" from an early age. His grandfather, a fisherman and virtuoso of the ney (wood flute), inspired an early appreciation of music, including folksongs, even before he began to enjoy the musical side of religious ritual. At home, his frequent jamming on pots and pans pushed his parents to buy him an oud -- a fretless, pear-shaped Arabic ancestor to the lute -- when he was 12.

After studying the roots of the Arabic musical tradition at the Beirut National Conservatory, he eventually brought his own stylistic imprint to the art of the oud in a six-volume study of the instrument. He wound up teaching at the conservatory, and as a composer has written dozens of works for dance, film soundtracks and symphony orchestras.

Khalife launched his first performance group in his hometown in 1972. Re-named the Al Mayadine Ensemble since 1976, the band has played top festivals and concert halls on six continents and made many recordings. Its name comes from the Arabic word mayad, which means both village square and battlefield. In an attempt to counteract the tide of western pop music, they drew inspiration for their mesmerizing sounds from the ancient Muwashahat traditions of Arabic culture rooted in southern Spain during the 11th and 12th centuries.

Along with the Muwashahat philosophy of promoting religious tolerance and peace, Khalife's other key lyrical influence has been the famous poet Mahmoud Darwish, a chief voice for Palestinian rights. In fact, Khalife was at home under house arrest in 1995 during Lebanon's civil war when he first became familiar with Darwish's work. Khalife and Darwish are now good friends and Khalife's latest recording, the excellent Taqasim (improvisations), is dedicated to the poet.

Khalife's travels also led him to absorb varied influences. Improvising is a kind of common ground that plays a role in his composing.

"My country has always had a certain duality that has been open to outside cultures. I believe the music of different cultures enriches each other's, so I don't see a separation between our music, western classical music and jazz. It's up to musicians everywhere to do their part to promote a greater understanding between peoples."

Khalife's Al Mayadine Ensemble pays its first visit to Western Canada in some 20 years Friday. The group features two of Khalife's sons, Rami on piano and Bachar on percussion, and Peter Herbert on upright bass.

By: Roger Levesque