

Music often gives expression to human experiences that are difficult to communicate. In times of war and national crises, artists harness music as a tool for community empowerment and healing. With this starting point, fifth-year Arabic students at Indiana University spent the fall semester looking at how the role of music takes form during periods of civil wars in the Middle East and North African regions. Arabic Students Shems Al-Ubaidi and Audria Hettinger got to have a conversation with Ahmed Hayani, a musician from Aleppo well known for his Nasheed renditions. The Nasheed is a poetic tradition prevalent in the Muslim world that relies on vocal recitation to convey a lesson or a message to its audience. Ahmed has used this art form to convey themes of hope and resilience to his audience. (more…)