An international food fair took place at the farmer’s market, Souk el Tayeb, in Beirut on Saturday May 2nd. Visitors had the opportunity to visit Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Brazilian and Ethiopian stands. The goal of this operation: introduce Lebanese people to the culture of these countries whose citizens come to Lebanon to work as housemaids or find employment in cleaning companies. They are sometimes badly treated by a Lebanese society which knows nothing about them, they say.

"It's not easy having dark skin here. Actually taxis don’t often stop for me, "said Mestre Bira. The sneaker-wearing 46 years old Brazilian parades a multicolored turban which, he says, wraps "very long dreadlocks." He stands in front of the Brazilian booth at the International Culinary Festival which took place last Saturday in Beirut at Souk el Tayyeb. The stands of regulars who come every Saturday to sell their products on the parking lot situated between Saifi and Gemmayze mix with those representing Nigeria, Madagascar, Korea, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. Organized in the aftermath of International Labor Day on May 1st, this festival, which joins several NGOs, is the brainchild of photographer Simba Russeau to invite the Lebanese to open up to the culture of these countries, often represented in Lebanon by “second class” workers. For now, relatively few people stop in front of the stalls offering jewelry and culinary delights from faraway lands. Those who show more interest are in fact tourists, a couple of Japanese, one American and her daughter ... They all seem attracted by the cheerful atmosphere in this corner of the market.