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Holocaust, Refugees, and Humanitarianism

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2 days ago

Lovely profile of our two key musical friends and volunteers Hussain and Fatima, both from Kurdistan and Huddersfield.FATIMA HAMA AND HUSSAIN SULIMAN – KURDISH AND IRAQI FOLKLORE MUSICFatima is Kurdish, from a village in Kurdistan, Iraq. She came to Huddersfield in 2006. Hussain is from Iraq and came to the UK in 2018. They met through the local branch of 6million+ in 2020. When growing up both Hussain and Fatima listened to Kurdish classic and folklore music. Fatima feels like folklore music touches her and goes with her personality. Neither of them came from a musical family but Hussain does have a musical brother who still lives in Kurdistan. Hussain started listening to music properly in high school.Hussain started playing music at the age of nine. He used to make animal skin drums and first played it in public at a new year celebration. The first instrument he learned to play was the zarb (an Iranian hand drum) and in 1986 he began learning the saz (Turkish string instrument). Both Fatima and Hussain describe coming to Yorkshire firstly through experiencing the weather. In Kurdistan there are 4 distinct seasons but, in the UK, everything is similar to their winter or autumn. Fatima found it hard at first to live here for that reason. However, Hussain prefers the summers here because in Iraq they are too hot.In Kurdistan, Fatima was a teacher and her now husband (who was from the same village as her) had lived in the UK for four years. Fatima knew him and his parents a little bit but because of a war that was going on she never got to know him properly. He came back to Kurdistan and married Fatima. They have now lived in Huddersfield for 15 years and have three children. Hussain came over to the UK through Europe and over the sea from France. He describes this as being very difficult but necessary. In his country he was not free. He could not play music and had to ask permission to do many things and sometimes was denied doing the things he wanted to. Freedom in the UK has made him happier. When Fatima arrived in Huddersfield she was frightened to go out and as a result locked herself in her flat for one year. She could not understand English. In the block of flats where she lived there was a fight every night. She had heard that people might attack her for wearing a hijab (a head scarf). After one year she had her first child and started college and therefore had to leave her flat on a regular basis. At this point she realised that it was a mistake not to have left her flat for a year. She found Huddersfield and its people to be welcoming. When Hussain arrived, someone immediately showed him the places where he could receive help and support such as DASH Huddersfield. When people found out he was a musician he was given extra special treatment. People welcomed him too and he feels blessed to be here. Hussain appreciates how he can play his music freely free. He mainly left his country because he was warned to stop playing. He was teaching music in Iraq, but he was blackmailed into stopping. He was attacked by people with strong religious beliefs who do not believe that music should be played. The saz instrument that Hussain plays is made of a special type of tree, the wood of which ‘sings’. The instrument is put together in several sections, each made in a different style and a different part of the wood. The neck has frets which increase the pitch of the instrument incrementally, and includes tones, semi-tones, and micro-tones. Hussain plays different styles of folk and modern music. The saz is very versatile, open to music from India, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and more. Hussain however is most fond of playing traditional Kurdish music but also likes to play Turkish music. Kurdish folk music has a very long history. Every part of the country has a different style. The music has been passed on. No one knows exactly where it started but their grandparents were singing it and they also called it folklore. Iranian Kurdish songwriter-singer Hassan Zirak is a particular influence on the way Hussain plays. The kind of folklore music that Hussain plays might be a story or a love song. There are songs about grief. Other songs are taken from poems. Sometimes the music is in the form of a lullaby or a farming work song. The music belongs to no one and everyone. The music has a structure to it, but lyrics can be changed to suit particular situations. Some of the songs can be sung unaccompanied. Fatima recognises that some Kurdish music has been changed by modern songwriters and composers. Rap, for example, sometimes mixes traditional styles with modern influences. As a Kurdish woman she understands what is happening within this modernisation, but she does not particularly enjoy it – she prefers the old style. Hussain is currently at college. He is not allowed to work due to his immigration status. Though he does perform his music at the groups he attends. He has a few musicians that he likes to play with, including Fatima. Neither of them know many musicians that play in Huddersfield but occasionally it does happen that a Kurdish musician comes here to play. Fatima says it is mainly men that play Kurdish music, and she doesn’t know many men.In 2008, Fatima started attending 6million+, a local charity that supports people who have been connected to or affected by genocides. She went to talk about the Halabja massacre. Since 2013 she has been attending regularly. Both Hussain and Fatima are part of 6million+ and are proud to be a part of the organisation.Fatima says that music is very much part of her. She sings for every occasion. During the lockdown music helped her a lot. Hussain says music makes time fly and that music helped through the lockdown too. Photo: Fatima Hama and Hussain Suliman playing the saz (Turkish string instrument) as part of the Carry My Story finale curated by Kim Strickson, Al-Hikmah Centre, Batley, 2022. Photo by Malcolm Johnson, courtesy of 6million+ ... See MoreSee Less

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3 days ago

Anyone know somewhere in central Huddersfield where this vital project can be based?*HELP NEEDED**New Premises*As many of you already know, we've been based in the Queensgate Market in Huddersfield for the past 15 months, supporting asylum seekers and refugees living in Kirklees with essential clothing. But the indoor market is closing it’s doors at the end of October and we need to find new premises. Sadly we have not managed to find new premises to date. The project needs a permanent space to continue to run this essential needs service.☀️Size is negotiable, and must have a toilet and little kitchen facility. Ground level for accessibility. It could be an empty shop or building, or a small warehouse etc.☀️Location: Huddersfield, as central as possible. ☀️A parking space for people to drop off donations would be wonderful. ☀️We'd love a permanent home but we’d be happy with a temporary arrangement (6 months - 1 year)Any ideas? Does anyone know anywhere or anyone that could help us? 🙏🏾🤞🏼☀️Please, please, please share this post far and wide - tell everyone you know!☀️Please share this post with your family, friends, work, faith networks, local communities etc...#RefugeesWelcome#TogetherWithRefugees#EssentialNeeds#Community#clothingPovertySupport#ClothingBank#ReuseRecycleRepurpose#SharedGoodsCharity#KirkleesWelcomes ... See MoreSee Less

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3 days ago

Shana Tova. Lovely story on a day that brings unwelcome news from Italy. ... See MoreSee Less

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3 days ago

Great 'Unmasking Pain' session yesterday afternoon. Next one on Wednesday 19th October at 7pm at the Lawrence Batley. You can still get involved if you are managing long term pain, or if you are friends or family of someone in this situation. #veryworthwhile ... See MoreSee Less

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4 days ago

How lovely to see this message from our friendly Mayor today.A message from the Mayor of Kirklees as the Jewish communities in the borough celebrate the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah starts today and lasts for two days. It symbolises making a fresh start.The Mayor of Kirklees Cllr Masood Ahmed said: “Rosh Hashanah is a time for people to reflect on the past 12 months and this is something we can all do.“We can also think about our priorities in life and what is important to us – whether that is spending more time with our family or doing more to help others. “To our Jewish communities in Kirklees I wish them a happy Rosh Hashanah.”How is the day celebrated?During Rosh Hashanah , Jewish people will traditionally greet each other with ‘L’shanah tovah’ which means “for a good New Year”.Many families will spend some time at a Synagogue and one of the traditions is to a blow a Shofar which is large horn and is one of the world’s oldest known wind instruments.The sound of the Shofar marks the beginning of the ten day period called the ‘Days of Awe’ which leads up the Jewish festival Yom Kippur. ... See MoreSee Less

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