By Fattah Issa
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – With Turkey’s ongoing threats and shelling against Northeast Syria, it is hard to imagine living in such circumstances, no stability, security chaos, and limited access to basic life services, but for many, solace has been found in music.
Whenever the bombing starts and its echo fills the air; Eva al-Ali picks up her violin and begins to play. She wants her younger siblings at home hear the music instead and forget all about the Turkish bombing.
The 12-year-old girl plays the violin because it makes her feel peace and comfort. Her musical instrument serves as a source of motivation for her to overcome the challenges and difficulties in her life.
According to al-Ali, the war, Turkish threats, and the bombings in her city of Kobani, northern Syria, are hardships that she confronts by music and singing.
She has been training at a music institute to further develop her skills in playing the violin for about four months.
Just like al-Ali, the 14-year-old musician Arjin Jijan also seeks comfort in the strings of a violin. Whenever the echoes of bombing fill the air, he turns to his instrument, finding peace in its music.
Through his music, Jijan aims to face his fear, replacing it with a sense of strength and determination.
Leaning into music despite war
Jijan told North Press that many children feel afraid when they hear the sounds of shelling, while he plays music to resist those sounds.
Jijan has been playing the violin for approximately a year at a music institute. “Music makes me feel safe and happy, especially when my mother asks me to play at home.”
Participating in numerous musical evenings not only brings him happiness but also brings joy to the audience, he noted.
Participating in these musical events brings him profound satisfaction, as his music has the power to comfort and uplift those who listen.
Similarly, Ayver Mustafa is trying to overcome her fears of bombing by singing and playing on the oud.
Children’s fear
The 13-year-old girl, who has been training to play the oud and perform songs at the institute for a year and a half, said that the frequent Turkish aircraft flying over Kobani and the bombings terrify the children.
She told North Press that she managed to overcome her fears by playing music and singing.
Mustafa noted that learning music does not negatively impact her studies; instead, it relaxed her and improved her learning abilities.
Meanwhile, artist and music teacher Hussein Khani believes that the music institute is a place where children of the city find peace and a means to pursue their dreams.
Khani highlighted the constant state of fear experienced by children in the area due to the persisting sounds of aircraft, bombings, shells, and the ongoing discussions about the war in the region.
Khani further explained that playing music clears the children’s mind and helps them control their feelings and fears.
Impact of Turkish attacks
Khani noted that due to the constant Turkish threats and bombings in the area, parents sometimes refrain from sending their children to the institute because they worry about their safety.
Khani believes that children have the right to enjoy their childhood, but unfortunately, children in Syria have been living in fear for more than ten years and haven’t had a safe childhood.
Khani expressed hope for the spread of security and stability across the region, where children can live a normal life, away from the horrors of war.