Syrian craftsman integrates musical cultures with Syrian music

A few years ago, the Syrian craftsman Abdullah Sofeya decided to produce a strange musical instrument that was being played at a concert by the well-known Greek musician, Yanni, because it will cost an arm and a leg to get it from Europe.

“I saw the didgeridoo at Yanni’s concert. I was amazed by its sound and I had no idea about its name then. So, I started searching for it and found that it was available in Europe at a very high price; therefore, I decided to make it with my own hands,” Sofeya told Syria Times e-newspaper.

The didgeridoo is made from a hollow tree branch, but the method of making it was not clear to Sofeya, who nevertheless succeeded in producing it after several attempts.

The craftsman, who loves music since his childhood, also produced the Udu, which is a cylindrical, vase-shaped ceramic musical instrument and is popular in Nigeria.

“It took 3 months to produce the Udu as I depend on photos from social media only…In fact, I like to integrate musical cultures with Syrian music. I search for every strange musical instrument and try to make it with my own hands and learn how to play it,” Sofeya clarified.

He considers music as the oxygen for life.

“You can not imagine life without music. My main craft is producing stained glass, which dates back to the 12th century, and I inherited it from my father, but I moved to produce musical instruments because I love music,” he concluded.

Basma Qaddour