Omar Alkilani

Omar Alkilani is a renowned Syrian musician and guitarist, born on May 14, 1999, in Aleppo, Syria.[Interview with Omar Alkilani on Balqees TV - Details of the Guitar Orchestra Project (in Arabic) http://web.archive.org/web/20230812090322/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6cYtT3Cqs&feature=youtu.be][Documentary film about Omar Alkilani titled "Solo" on Al Jazeera Documentary Channel (in Arabic)https://web.archive.org/web/20230811103337/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlAtIr5giZo][Haluk Çetin ile Şiiriçi Şarkılar | Guest: Omar Alkilani (in Turkish) http://web.archive.org/web/20230812093554/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHAhVnPpLRQ ][Article about Omar Alkilani titled "Dancing with the Strings" - Fan Time https://www.fantime.net/2019/03/blog-post_28.html?m=1]
==About==
Omar Alkilani began his musical journey in his homeland before being forced to seek refuge in Turkey due to the wars in Syria.[Documentary about Omar Alkilani - Sounds Beyond The Borders - FNF https://sinirinotesindensesler.org/2019/08/02/syrian-musicians-in-istanbul-istanbulun-suriyeli-muzisyenleri-omer-alkilani/][Documentary film about Omar Alkilani - Artık Onlar Bizim Rengimiz - Mugyed https://www.mugyed.org/single-post/art%C4%B1k-onlar-bizim-rengimiz-belgeselinin-ilk-b%C3%B6l%C3%BCm%C3%BC-yay%C4%B1nda]
Upon settling in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2015, Omar Alkilani embarked on his professional career as a guitarist. Initially, he started playing in the streets, notably in Istiklal Avenue, one of the busiest streets in Istanbul,[Omar Alkilani in the program "The Stranger Neighbor" - Episode titled "Istiklal Avenue - Istanbul" (in Arabic) / Alaraby TV https://www.alaraby.com/programs/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A8/%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84][Turkish newspaper Hurriyet - Omar Alkilani and Arabic music in Taksim Square https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kelebek/hurriyet-pazar/araplarin-taksiminde-gunduz-ve-gece-40819499] and later formed a band called "Mood Band" with fellow Syrian refugee musicians, performing together for four consecutive years.[Promo and interview with Mood Band - UNHCR https://web.archive.org/web/20230812091616/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oHg4O7bUus][Article about the refugee street musician Omar Alkilani - Birartibir platform https://birartibir.org/goc-hepimizi-degistiriyor/] Omar Alkilani gained fame as a Syrian refugee musician and advocate for the refugee and music causes.[Sputnik news network - About Omar Alkilani https://sputniknews.com/tr/20200603/suriyeli-gitarist-siginmaci-omere-yonelik-ayrimci-dile-livaneliden-tepki-kor-karanliklarda-nefret-1042182690.html] [Interview with Omar Alkilani on Açık Radyo 94.9 (in Turkish) https://archive.org/details/GocmeninMzii19Aralik2017][Article about street musician Omar Alkilani - Enab Baladi https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/373516][Karar platform - About Omar Alkilani https://www.karar.com/multeci-muzisyenler-insanliga-nota-veriyor-1610518][Article about refugee musician Omar Alkilani - Sivil Sayfalar https://www.sivilsayfalar.org/2020/06/20/uc-farkli-insan-hikayesiyle-turkiyede-multeci-olmak/]
In 2018, Omar Alkilani initiated his own artistic project in Istanbul. He established his own recording studio and engaged in music composition and distribution[Interview with Omar Alkilani on the program "Wherever You Are" with host Abdelmoein Abdelmajeed (in Arabic) - Enab Baladi http://web.archive.org/web/20230812092147/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6JddSEzGSI], subsequently working on other social art projects[Article on Turkish newspaper Hurriyet about the documentary film "Artik onlar bizim rengimiz" https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yerel-haberler/ankara/multeci-hayatlar-kisa-filmde-41790312][Article on Bianet platform (in Turkish) https://m.bianet.org/biamag/print/241422-farkli-cografyalarda-ayni-gokyuzunun-altinda]. One of the notable projects was the series of "Arab Stand-Up Comedy" shows.[Arab Stand-Up Comedy project - TV interview with Omar Alkilani (in Arabic) / Alaraby TV http://web.archive.org/web/20230812095527/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHAymxg7PfI] He also participated in co-writing a book titled "Beyond Istanbul," which narrated the lives of refugee musicians and street performers and the significance of expatriate music.[Book "Beyond Istanbul" co-authored by Omar Alkilani - Academia.edu https://www.academia.edu/43417141/G%C3%B6%C3%A7_ve_M%C3%BCzik_%C3%9Czerine_Birlikte_D%C3%BC%C5%9F%C3%BCnmek][Muzikte Kalmaz platform - Omar Alkilani on music and expatriates https://muziktekalmaz.org/2020/06/24/goc-ve-muzik-uzerine-birlikte-dusunmek/]
Omar Alkilani gained popularity on YouTube, where his music videos garnered numerous views[Omar Alkilani on Oksijen newspaper (in Turkish) https://gazeteoksijen.com/turkiye/savastan-kactilar-youtuber-oldular-8162]. He participated in various music festivals and performances and was known for his dedicated audience that accompanied him during his musical shows.[Article about the documentary film "I AM ISTANBULLU" - İstiklal Kültür Sanat platform (in Turkish) http://istiklalcaddesi.istanbul/goc-meselesine-sanat-perspektifinden-bir-bakis-i-am-istanbullu-simdi-gainde/][Article about Omar Alkilani - Sabah news network (in Turkish) https://m.sabah.com.tr/cumartesi/2019/06/29/turkiyeyi-vatanimiz-olarak-goruyoruz/amp]
Omar Alkilani currently resides in Istanbul, Turkey.
==Albums==
2019: Hijaz From The Roof
2021: Different Moods in 2021
2022: Guitarology
2023: PuzzleSyrian Musician Omar Alkilani Presents New Album "Guitarology" - Enab Baladi
==See also==
Iyad Rimawi
Underground Music
Electric Guitar
Arabic music
Ibrahim Maalouf
Category:1999 births
Category:People from Aleppo	
Category:Syrian people
Category:Musicians
Category:Guitarists