Syrian Artist Trades War Torn Home For Gritty Streets Of Malaysia


Armed with his oud, a traditional Syrian lute, Somar Hukaima Abo Fakher lives a nomadic existence in Malaysia to play his music.KUALA LUMPUR: After six long years, the acrid smell of war and destruction all around him finally became too much for Somar Hukaima Abo Fakher to bear any longer
The Syrian decided to flee to Malaysia in 2017. He used his savings to buy an air ticket and left in search of safety and a chance to pursue his ambitions
Now 29, he remembers the day in 2011 that civil unrest first broke out in Syria’s capital, his place of birth, Damascus
“I was at work, and we were watching protests in the streets on TV,” he told FMT in fluent English
The country watched as government forces violently suppressed all the protests
“That was the day I knew civil war was starting in Syria,” he recalled. “I realised this would be the end of everything I had known.”The peaceful protests turned into armed rebellion, and escalated into a full-scale war affecting the whole nation and ultimately the region
Even as the civil war grew bloodier, Somar managed to continue his Fine Arts university degree course
His family had returned to their hometown in southern Syria and so he was living in a flat in a tower block in Damascus
“My apartment block was bombed. Almost nobody survived that
“I was lucky because I wasn’t there at the time. It was my 25th birthday and I had gone to spend it with my family in the south,” he said, fighting back tears, recalling the neighbours and friends he lost
He tried to live a normal life, but it became increasingly difficult. Family members and friends were getting killed
“When it’s really dangerous, the only thing you can do is stay in, lock the door and wait,” he said. “I stayed through the hard times in Syria; I had no intention of leaving initially.”But when it all became too much, he decided to flee
He was not the only one
According to the United Nations, Somar is one of approximately 5.6 million Syrian refugees who fled the country due to the conflict. Many went to Europe but Somar decided to head east instead
He came to Malaysia as a tourist, and ended up applying for a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card which allows him to stay here
While he feels welcome and safe in Malaysia, finding a job is very difficult as refugees, even with UNHCR cards, are not permitted to work. They can apply for financial assistance, but Somar prefers to make his own way
At first he was able to earn survival money busking on the streets of KL, playing his oud, a traditional Syrian lute
Then he and some Syrian friends formed a pick-up band which played on the streets and when they were lucky, at events
In the end he couldn’t make enough money to live on from busking, so he switched to doing casual jobs wherever he could find them
Now he also makes what he can by selling his artwork and handicrafts
He leads a nomadic existence, shuttling between KL, Penang and Malacca by bus, living in guesthouses and renting rooms by the month
“It’s hard to find stable jobs anywhere if you’re an artist, but it’s especially difficult for me here because I’m not allowed to work.”“I don’t come from a rich family. So I can’t ask anyone back home for money as they have to take care of things there.”Now he has sought help from UNHCR to see if there are bazaars and markets for him to sell his artwork at, so he can make a proper business out of it while he waits for a better time to go home
When does he think that time will come
Last year, the Syrian Army declared Damascus to be free from rebel forces after nearly seven years. YouTube videos show people dancing and singing in the streets in celebration
While the violence may be over, Somar says the conflict has left the capital in ruins
“It’s going to take a very long time to overcome the emotional scars and to rebuild the city. It’s still chaos there.”He has not found his dream in Malaysia and yearns to return to Syria when the nightmare there is over
“It’s my country. My friends and my memories are there.” - FMT

Artikel ini hanyalah simpanan cache dari url asal penulis yang berkebarangkalian sudah terlalu lama atau sudah dibuang :

http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2019/06/syrian-artist-trades-war-torn-home-for.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MalaysiansMustKnowTheTruth+%28Malaysians+M

Kempen Promosi dan Iklan
Kami memerlukan jasa baik anda untuk menyokong kempen pengiklanan dalam website kami. Serba sedikit anda telah membantu kami untuk mengekalkan servis percuma aggregating ini kepada semua.

Anda juga boleh memberikan sumbangan anda kepada kami dengan menghubungi kami di sini
Not So Easy For Sarawak To Leave Malaysia Says Baru Bian

Not So Easy For Sarawak To Leave Malaysia Says Baru Bian

papar berkaitan - pada 30/6/2019 - jumlah : 324 hits
Works Minister Baru Bian launches the Pan Borneo Dashboard which monitors the progress of the Pan Borneo Highway project on a real time basis in Kota Kinabalu today KOTA KINABALU Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has rejected the idea of the stat...
Time For Malaysia Airlines Board To Step Down

Time For Malaysia Airlines Board To Step Down

papar berkaitan - pada 21/6/2019 - jumlah : 301 hits
The national carrier has yet again failed to reach the top 20 in the World s Top 100 Airlines survey by Skytrax for five years in a row now It s an embarrassment to see the national carrier failing to make a mark after a four year wait It p...
Malaysia Airlines Slammed For Failing To Make Top 20 In International Survey

Malaysia Airlines Slammed For Failing To Make Top 20 In International Survey

papar berkaitan - pada 21/6/2019 - jumlah : 280 hits
Malaysia Airlines was ranked 36th in this year s World s Top 100 Airlines survey PETALING JAYA The National Union of Flight Attendants today called on the Malaysia Airlines management to step down following news that the national carrier ha...
Pm We Will Choose Buyer For Malaysia Airlines Carefully

Pm We Will Choose Buyer For Malaysia Airlines Carefully

papar berkaitan - pada 22/6/2019 - jumlah : 200 hits
Malaysia is willing to consider selling the national carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd if there is a good offer for the company says Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad However he said the government must first ensure the potential buyer would b...
Malaysia Not Taking Sides In Us China Trade War Says Dr M

Malaysia Not Taking Sides In Us China Trade War Says Dr M

papar berkaitan - pada 22/6/2019 - jumlah : 215 hits
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks during a dialogue with Thai corporate leaders in Bangkok today With him is Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah PETALING JAYA Malaysia will not take sides in the intensifying US China trade war Prime...
Spanish Ranch Style Home That Makes A Case For Green Accents

Spanish Ranch Style Home That Makes A Case For Green Accents

papar berkaitan - pada 2/7/2019 - jumlah : 209 hits
When you are determined to renovate a house in Newport Beach California the home to the iconic surfing spot The Wedge where eternal sunshine and flip flops are the only thing you need you The post appeared first on
10 Ideas With An Orange Accent For Styling Your Home

10 Ideas With An Orange Accent For Styling Your Home

papar berkaitan - pada 18/6/2019 - jumlah : 281 hits
If you are looking for the right color that can bright up your home feel free to choose the orange vibrant hue Orange as color can be surprisingly versatile especially when set against turquoise where The post appeared first on
Different Kitchen Design Ideas To Consider For Your Home Renovation

Different Kitchen Design Ideas To Consider For Your Home Renovation

papar berkaitan - pada 27/6/2019 - jumlah : 247 hits
For busy families avid home cooks and seasoned hosts the kitchen is an essential part of their homes Having the best kitchen means having the perfect balance between beauty and functionality However designing your dream The post appeared fi...
Best Air Track For Home To Train Your Muscles

Best Air Track For Home To Train Your Muscles

papar berkaitan - pada 24/6/2019 - jumlah : 266 hits
Most air tumble tracks that are sold in the market can not meet your demands to train your muscles due Artikel ditulis oleh dan dipublikasikan pertama kali di Hak cipta oleh
Ph Must Safeguard Its Voter Base To Land Second Term For Anwar Says Analyst

Tetaplah Beriadah Di Bulan Ramadan

Honor Pad 9 Tablet Terbaik Untuk Berhibur Dan Kerja Mula Dijual Seluruh Negara Pada 28 Mac

Perumahan Izara Bayu Sutera Kediaman Idaman Tepi Tasik Dengan Ciri Smart Home

8 Resepi Air Balang Viral Di Bazar Ramadhan

Sesi Tukar Duit Raya Di Maybank

Lirik Lagu Raya Mana Nabila Razali

Diet If Yang Berkesan Menurut Pakar



Koleksi 15 Lagu Hari Raya Terbaru Yang Meriahkan Aidilfitri 2024 Bakal Evergreen Bak Lagu Lama

6 Pantang Larang Penting Kalau Nak Selamat di Sekolah Asrama

Info Dan Sinopsis Filem 19 Puasa Playboys Of Plastik Hitam Astro First

Casimir Zeglen Paderi Yang Mencipta Jaket Kalis Peluru

Biodata Mohammad Rifdean Masdor Atlet Muay Thai Malaysia Yang Gegarkan One Championship Seangkatan Johan Ghazali Jojo


15 Easter Garland Designs To String Along The Spring Festivities

Hallway Wall Art Mockup For A Sophisticated Look

Do You Know About Kuda Kepang Dance

Cukai Perkhidmatan 8 Hanya Ke Atas Golongan Berkemampuan

300 Extra Padu Registration Counters Opened

Nadma Remaining Water Storage Reserves In Four Dams In Johor Penang And Kedah At Critical Level