Lebanese descendants return to a changed homeland

Naima Yazbek and Natalie Nassif, both born in Brazil to Lebanese families, each made the journey to Lebanon seeking connection to their ancestral homeland.

Naima, a dancer and singer, arrived in 2009 wanting to understand her family’s culture and language, eventually selling her possessions to make a permanent move. Natalie followed in 2005, driven by stories from her mother and grandmother, and later chose to remain in Beirut after a temporary visit following the 2020 explosion.

Both women experienced a complex return, finding that the Lebanon of their family’s memories differed from the reality they encountered. Naima faced initial resistance as a foreigner, while Natalie navigated the challenges of being seen as an outsider despite her heritage. They each built lives in Lebanon, integrating their Brazilian identities into their careers and communities.

Historian Diogo Bercito notes that for descendants of migrants, “returning home” doesn’t necessarily mean retracing one’s own steps, but rather inhabiting a place through emotional and genealogical ties. Both Naima and Natalie found their sense of belonging was negotiated in relation to those around them, being seen as Lebanese in Brazil and Brazilian in Lebanon.

Despite ongoing instability in Lebanon, including the aftermath of the 2020 Beirut explosion and continued conflict, both women ultimately chose to remain, building lives that bridge two cultures and reaffirm their connection to an inherited homeland.