Shervan Alo – Germany
A lot of Syrians, when reached European countries, tried to integrate with the community in every way, to start a new life and adapt to European customs and traditions, at the same time, they kept theirs , to reveal it as good as possible. One of the ways, in which the Syrians practiced integration through, was music and singing.
Music to break the stereotype
Hamza, 28, and Abbas, 27, who started their journey by sea to Greece and overland to Germany in late 2015. They told North Press about the difficulties they faced and the ways to overcome them.
The two brothers began singing and playing music on the oud and percussion at the refugee shelters, where they initially stayed. Through participating with German organizations concerned with helping refugees, and through these activities , they were able to expand their relations more in the field of art.
Hamza, who plays the Oud, participated four times in the orchestra of Om Kalthoum, along with 22 musicians from various European countries in Berlin. “We were able to break the stereotype of Syrian refugees,” he says.
The two brothers explained that playing and singing helped them a lot to integrate and mix with German society, to form extensive relations with German artists and citizens.
Facilitation of integration
Zakaria Hussein, 24, arrived in Germany from Afrin in 2015, hoping to start a new future and play his instrument again, but he was not lucky in the beginning, because it was difficult to him to be introduced to the Germans as well as getting involved in the community.
A year ago, Hussein participated in a concert between the cities of Koln and Düsseldof as the bezek player, the cocert included a musical group and German people, where he met them, introduced to them and was invited by them to play at a cultural evening.
“We recently formed a band called ‘Band 5000Miles’ whose members are from around the world.” Hussein said.
Although he was frustrated at first, yet, Zakaria is now sure that he can succeed and get his music heard by people of different nationalities.
Philippe Mueller, a German violinist, finds that music removes barriers between societies “It is one of the ways that facilitate integration and cultural exchange.”
Mueller adds that he has played several times with musicians from around the world, including Syrians, which opens the way, for him, to know the difference between Eastern and Western music and the possibility of merging them several times.
“Music is a good language for rapprochement between Germans, Syrians and all peoples in general, and everyone should have discussions and evenings of this kind to integrate and eliminate the state of fear among all parties,” Muller concluded.