Syrian-Kurdish refugees and musicians Norshean Salih, 23, and her sister Perwin Salih, 20, perform in Erbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq. All photos: AFP
Syrian-Kurdish refugees and musicians Norshean Salih, 23, and her sister Perwin Salih, 20, perform in Erbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq. All photos: AFP
They have twice been driven from their family home in the northern Syrian town of Kobane - once by the ISIS, and again by the threat of Turkish bombs
They have twice been driven from their family home in the northern Syrian town of Kobane - once by the ISIS, and again by the threat of Turkish bombs
They have found a safe haven in northern Iraq's Kurdish region, where they carve out a living by performing the often melancholy music of their people in a restaurant
They have found a safe haven in northern Iraq's Kurdish region, where they carve out a living by performing the often melancholy music of their people in a restaurant
Kurds, an ethnic group of between 25 million and 35 million people, are spread mainly across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran
Kurds, an ethnic group of between 25 million and 35 million people, are spread mainly across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran
In this picture taken on May 1, 202, Syrian-Kurdish refugees and musicians Norshean Salih (R), 23, and her sister Perwin Salih, 20, perform in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Onstage in Iraq's Kurdish capital of Arbil, two Syrian sisters played the melancholy music of their people, the Kurds -- melodies that echo their own story of suffering and displacement. (Photo by Safin HAMID / AFP)
In this picture taken on May 1, 202, Syrian-Kurdish refugees and musicians Norshean Salih (R), 23, and her sister Perwin Salih, 20, perform in Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Onstage in Iraq's Kurdish capital of Arbil, two Syrian sisters played the melancholy music of their people, the Kurds -- melodies that echo their own story of suffering and displacement. (Photo by Safin HAMID / AFP)
The two women say they grew up in a household of music lovers, with their mother singing to them before bedtime while their father played the tambourine
The two women say they grew up in a household of music lovers, with their mother singing to them before bedtime while their father played the tambourine
Ready to go to work in Arbil
Ready to go to work in Arbil
Once, the sisters say, mortar shells hit their family home, thankfully without exploding
Once, the sisters say, mortar shells hit their family home, thankfully without exploding
Norshean, a classical music afficionado, also plays the piano, guitar and kamanja, an ancient Persian string instrument, and dreams of making it as a violinist
Norshean, a classical music afficionado, also plays the piano, guitar and kamanja, an ancient Persian string instrument, and dreams of making it as a violinist
The wandering sisters dream of one day returning home
The wandering sisters dream of one day returning home

MENA

After surviving ISIS, Syrian refugee sisters sing of Kurdish sorrow - in pictures

The melodies of the siblings' music echo their own story of suffering and displacement

The National

June 03, 2023

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Updated: June 03, 2023, 6:15 AM