Music Behind the Bars

Thirty years ago, a group of political prisoners formed a band inside the cells of Syria’s notorious Sednaya Pr*son—dubbed the "Human Slaughterhouse" by Amnesty International in 2017—to resist the oppressive noise that deepened their suffering. Using makeshift instruments crafted from food scraps, clothing threads, and other Pr*son materials, they whispered and played their songs in secret. For the first time, 34 of these songs were documented through Eylaf Bader Eddin’s research on Sijniyya, a newly coined term for Syrian Pr*son songs within the country’s cultural field. Now, decades later, several of these musicians have reunited to perform live, using replicas of the instruments they originally built in Pr*son. This concert sheds light on the resilience and creative resistance that emerged within Syria’s Pr*son system. Davidson College and its community are invited to witness this extraordinary U.S. premiere, followed by a discussion.

Al-Bustan will provide an Iftar Dinner prior to the musical performance.
Cost: Students - $15; General Admission - $20; Generous Donation: $50

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, 310 Master Street, Philadelphia, United States