Extraordinary Islamic items from Sydney suburbs at Powerhouse Parramatta opening
Sydney musician Tarik Hussein has become the only known maker of the kanun, a traditional Middle Eastern string instrument, in Australia. After struggling to import and maintain the rare instruments, he and his father-in-law reverse-engineered a design to build their own.
Why it matters
This highlights the preservation of cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship within immigrant communities in Australia.
Tarik Hussein says as far he knows, he and his father-in-law are the only people who make kanuns in Australia. ( ABC News: Declan Bowring )
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Tarik Hussein thinks there were only 10 kanuns in Australia when he began playing in 2006.
The Sydney musician and engineer says he grew up playing the piano and guitar, and discovered the kanun when he was 17 years old.
The kanun is a precursor to the piano, played by plucking 78 strings with the fingers while it lays across the player's lap.
The kanun is a centuries-old instrument from the Middle East. ( ABC News: Declan Bowring )
Mr Hussein says it is impossible to find kanuns in Australia, so when he started teaching the instrument, he needed to get them imported from Türkiye.
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