REFUGEE GUITARS ORCHESTRA
Refugee Guitars Orchestra, founded and directed by Omar Alkilani, is a vibrant musical project uniting a diverse group of refugee musicians. The orchestra create a fusion of traditional and modern music, celebrating the universal language of music. Since its establishment in 2019, it has showcased the talent and cultural richness of its participants.
Vision & Impact
Refugee Guitars Orchestra's primary vision is to harness the power of music to empower and uplift refugees, promote cultural understanding, foster a sense of community, and advocate for positive change.
The Impact of Refugee Guitars Orchestra is to strengthen cultural connections, empower members, raise awareness of refugee issues, build community, show the world the talents of refugees, and inspire positive change through the universal language of music.
Project Believes..
STOP WAR, MAKE ART !!
Given that most refugees are displaced due to wars, the primary objective of this project is to put an end to these conflicts and promote endeavors instead. As artists, our sole contribution is our art, and we strive to convey a message to the world with our best efforts.
THE LANGUAGE OF MUSIC
There are two languages in this planet that everyone can understand, one is mathematic, and the other is music. With the conviction that music speaks louder than words, the project's objective is to reach deep into people's souls and effect real changes.
BELIEVE IN PEACE
Using music as a language that transcends borders, The initiative, led by refugees, promotes the message that diverse backgrounds and cultures can unite for peace.
What Has Been Achieved So Far?
The project has successfully completed five video clip projects, featuring over 70 refugee artists from various nationalities, beautifully showcasing the blending of different cultures from around the world. Additionally, four live concerts have been organized, drawing audiences from diverse countries.
Pharaon
- 01/01/2022 -
The first project orchestrated a music video featuring 27 refugee guitarists from diverse cultures, playing only classical guitars.
Al-Shoubi
- 19/11/2022 -
Mixed Oriental Iraqi rhythm “Al-Shoubi" with Western Blues melodies in a music piece. This project has been composed using battle concept to make listeners and viewers enjoy a nice music show (classical guitars VS darbuka -Oriental drum-)
Around the World in 7min
- 07/01/2023 -
About 50 artists from all over the world play 10 different cultures of music using more than 20 different instruments in a 7-minute music video.
Smack That !!
- 02/02/2024 -
"Smack That" stands out as a vibrant, multicultural music video mashup with a powerful underlying message: refugees can be resilient, cool individuals who can thrive in modern society despite the challenges of displacement.
Longa Samai
- 20/12/2024
A journey through sound, stories, and the soul of a city became both a home and a challenge! Over 20 nationalities, 60 artists, and one city that brought them together: ISTANBUL. “Longa Samai” is a meeting of cultures, blending of "Longa" music style and "Samai Saqeql" 10/8 rhythm to tell stories of struggle, survival, and hope. The video features moments with the musicians who brought this piece to life, intertwined with glimpses of many other artists who have been part of the Refugee Guitars Orchestra.
Live Concert - Istanbul
- 07/03/2024 -
The first music show of Refugee Guitars Orchestra by Omar Alkilani - live in Istanbul.
Some of the participants in the project
Souhail Kaspar
Syrian-American - master percussionist nominated for the 2008 Grammy Traditional World Music Category.
Azzam Alshabaan
Syrian refugee - famous singer grew up in Turkey, has over 4 millions followers in his social media accounts.
Mussa Effects
Zimbabwean refugee
Afro singer released four albums in both Turkey and Zimbabwe.
Work Process..
OPERATE VERY CAREFULLY !
The project puts in a lot of time and effort into each endeavor. We start with weeks of rehearsals, in training centers and studios. Then move on to the recording and filming process. Lets take an example; the project titled "Around the World in 7 min." It took more than 120 hours to complete only recording, mixing and mastering (you can find more details in the photo). Each project goes through evaluation, by professionals, including sound engineers and producers.
Copyrights & Production
All Projects were composed, arranged, recorded, and produced independently by Omar Alkilani (founder of R.G.O.), who holds 100% ownership of the copyrights, Additionally, handling both video and audio aspects, with no involvement from external companies.
Nationalities..
Participant artists are refugees came from different countries, including Syria, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Jordan, Zimbabwe, India, Kurdistan, Iraq, Palestine, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, Pakistan, Lebanon and others. The meeting point for everyone was Istanbul, Turkey.
Media Coverage
Explore the various articles, interviews, and features highlighting Refugee Guitars Orchestra's work and achievements.
Enab Baladi
Enab Baladi, an renowned Arab media outlet, wrote about the Refugee Guitars Orchestra and published their project "Around the World in 7 Minutes" in an article following an interview with Omar Alkilani.
Belqees TV
Belqees TV, a prominent Arabic media channel, interviewed Omar Alkilani on their program "Sabah Belqees" to discuss the Refugee Guitars Orchestra project.
"Other Stories" Podcast
“Öteki Hikayeler” (Other Stories), a podcast series by BILGI Center for Migration Research and Practice, explores the intersection of art, migration, and coexistence. The program interviewed Omar Alkilani in English for an episode titled “Refugee Guitars Orchestra,” where he shared insights about the orchestra.