Taher, Mohammad

Taher, Mohammad; [Composer]

Taher, Mohammad; [Performer]

Corona virus awareness

Music

Music (MUS)

Music

Corona virusottun hefazotey thakon (Protection against coronavirus) is a awareness song, performed in the Rohingya camps for the RCMC by Rohingya musician Mohammad Taher.

“I made this song because awareness is the best weapon in this fight to stay healthy. Most Rohingya people can’t follow the announcements made through loudspeakers in the camps, so I have tried to convey some crucial information about the pandemic in a traditional song in our language.” 

A musician by trade, Taher specializes in traditional Rohingya folk songs like tarana and ancestral songs, but he makes a living as a wedding singer doing renditions of love ballads and wedding speeches. He never formally studied music but picked up many songs through listening and observing. He says he learnt everything from his mentor who taught him how to sing and play several instruments like the mandolin, harmonium, drums and gongs. Though he has never written an original song before, he used his skills and experience to come up with the coronavirus song because he felt compelled to act. 

“The best way to spread awareness throughout the camps is through songs like these. People feel them and sing them and the message travels,” he says. “Most of the Rohingya believe this is a punishment from God and so think reading the Quran and praying will be enough.” With his song Taher hopes to deliver the message about hygiene and physical distancing and believes that people are beginning to adopt better practices. He notices that people are staying home more and limiting their interactions. 

“The song is easy to understand, and I think at least 90% of the Rohingya will be mindful of hygiene and infection after hearing it, keeping us all safe from the coronavirus.”