Mohamad is the name, and percussion is the game.
Mohamad Ahmad is 14 years old, from Shatila camp, and has been playing the derbake for three years. It’s been three years of looking forward to class every Friday and Sunday rain or shine in the narrow alleys of Shatila. Three years of him practicing in his room, three years of him evolving.
“Music is beautiful, it changed me altogether. I now venture into hearing different kinds of music and became more outgoing in general.”
Mohamad dreams big with international goals, he wants to be known for his style and be social media famous. But for the most part, he wants to introduce his little brother to the world of music. “In the camp here, one is exposed to a lot of things, and no matter how many times you are able to ignore them, curiosity is bound to take over. With music there is no curiosity because I already have something exciting in my life, I have music and my derbake that teleport me outside the camp and that’s enough”, Ahmad admits.
There is no doubt that a kid like Ahmad will make it in life, and why wouldn’t he? He’s clearly got the character, the talent, the passion, and amazing parents. “Both of my parents are very encouraging, but my mom is the bigger fan”, he chuckles.
What’s next for Ahmad?
Ahmad wants to keep playing with Al- Kamandjati in the Bet Atfal Assumud organization and eventually join the Lebanese Conservatory of Music.
