Abdukholiq Sufiev is a blind singer living in an old people’s home in Yovon. He has been blind since birth, and perhaps his musical talent is a compensation for that. He plays accordion and sings folk songs. He also speaks Pamirian, Tajik and Russian.

Earlier this year Asia Plus published Rasul Tilavzadeh’s interview with Abdukholiq where he said he dreamt about a concert of his own.

We were really moved by that interview, and we thought about making this person’s dream come true. The idea was supported by many of our friends and colleagues, mainly Nobovar Chanorov, the lead singer for Shams band and Abdukholiq’s long-time friend who supports him as much he can.

Within just a few days our conversation has turned into real action: as of today, our idea is supported by Bahoriston TV, Cinema House (Safar Haqdodov), the Dushanbe branch of Show Service (Parviz Odinaev), BBC Radio, and Promotion LLC.

Admission will be based on invitations: we’ll invite people who love him; people interested in this kind of music; our mums, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas; openminded young people who respect Abdukholiq, and people who work in creative fields and make art. Daler and Nobovar are currently discussing the script and the repertoire: we want the concert to be acoustic, with a chance for improvisation and surprises... But, most importantly, Abdukholiq should feel that this day is his, and that we need him even more than he needs himself...

The concert will take place on Sunday, November 6, in Cinema House (ex-Zebunisso cinema) at 15:00. The programme will last for 1.5-2 hours, so the guests will be able to get home by shuttle bus.

We are still discussing tech details with the companies that volunteered to participate (TV, venue, lighting, CDs etc.), and we’re happy to see so many people willing to help and be involved in this story which never fails to touch everyone’s hearts from the inside... 

October 17, 2011

Today we’ve been to Yovon where Abdukholiq Sufiev lives. Nobovar had already visited this place many times, so everyone here knows him. Yusuf Karimovich, the managing director of the old people’s home, greeted us very warmly and showed us the way to the room. It was great to know that Abdukholiq is loved and respected by the staff and by everyone who lives there. We were allowed to sit in at the choir session. Songs in Russian were sung. Abdukholiq accompanied the singers by himself at first, but then someone brought in a guitar, we sang “Chok chok” and “Surudi neki” together, and then Nobovar joined in – we started a falak, then continued with “Yori man”... Holiq was happy to play every note and phrase of these songs, and sang along in a really heartfelt way... When we were saying goodbye, Abdukholiq’s wife Lyubov Vasilyevna said she didn’t want to let us go - it somehow felt to her as if we wouldn’t see each other again... This made us laugh: how so? Of course we will, our dear ones...

November 5, 2011

The concert is scheduled for tomorrow. Everyone is feeling uplifted, although a little bit tired from all the preparations. Behind us are several weeks of frantic action, endless phone calls, talks, worries over certain things that couldn’t be done as planned...

But tomorrow comes in just a few hours, so everything done or not done is to remain as it is... So now what’s left for us and everyone invited is to find out together how this concert will turn out...

Here’s who helped us organize the Abdukholiq Sufiev concert:

as well as

Ajubey Mawlonazarov

Romesh Khudoiev

Iroda Lohutsho

Faridoon Nazarov

Behruz Iskandarov

Wafodor Shirinbekov

Nazarkhudo Dastambuev

Gulmamad Nazarov

Anis Shabdolov

And of course a special “thank you” goes to our continuous partners and brothers in thought:

Babilon-M

Gurminj Museum

Cinema House

Bahoriston TV

BBC Radio

Nosir Saidov

Fathiddin Rahimov

Parviz Odinaev

Ahmadjon Yusupov

and to everyone who just provided moral support and showed their solidarity.

November 6 (Idi Qurbon)

A full audience witnessed our friend’s dream come true, and everyone was really happy: after all, this dream was so moving, so full of light... Being able to spend the holy day of bestowal and all-forgiveness this way was a true gift to all of us... On this day, everyone shares an innermost part of themselves with the world, doing it gladly and without regret. This is a day of great self-dedication to others. Abdukholiq was giving himself to that joy so sincerely that almost everyone in the hall had tears in their eyes. Everybody remembered a distant dream of their own: after all, most people’s dreams have stayed behind and remained in their childhood. The concert didn’t want to end; the hall became dense with people’s desire to climb onstage and express themselves. “You gave our lost love back to us. Thank you, Abduholiq,” said a woman in the audience... And that was spoken on everyone’s behalf... People didn’t want to leave; some of them invited others to their homes so that the conversation could continue... Ikbol called us on the phone. His voice sounded with excitement and joy when he said: “Everyone has changed today. I could see that.”