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Injured foreign worker turns singer
Crowd swells at his debut performance in Serangoon last night
By Arul John
February 05, 2009
ENCORE: Mr Israfil Haque (far left) earning cheers during his debut show last night. TNP PICTURES: CHOO CHWEE HUA
HE EXPECTED no more than 20 people at his performance.
After all, he was not a professional singer or musician, just a migrant worker who's here in Singapore to make a living - until a workplace accident made him unable to continue working.
But Mr Israfil Haque, 29, a former shipyard worker, got a pleasant surprise when double that number of people turned up to listen to him.
The Bangladeshi national held a gathering yesterday at food#03, a vegetarian cafe off Serangoon Road.
The event was organised by two volunteers at the migrant worker group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2).
Mr Israfil Haque.
Ms Sha Najak, 20, and Ms Ye Junjia, 27, wanted to showcase his musical talents and also thank him for the volunteer work he has done at TWC2.
Mr Israfil would sing six Bengali love songs and play the guitar.
At 8.30pm, there were about 10 other Bangladeshi nationals in the eatery, and an equal number of other diners.
Two other TWC2 volunteers were also filming the event.
Soon, Mr Israfil started his first song and strummed his guitar.
His countrymen, Mr Munirul Islam, 28, tapped to the rhythm on a wooden table in front of him.
Soon the solo performance sounded like a harmonious duet as Mr Munirul's tapping deftly accompanied Mr Israfil's singing and strumming.
Diners whipped out their handphones and digital cameras to take photographs, as more people, mostly Bangladeshi nationals, streamed in.
After each song, the applause from the crowd grew louder and more animated.
Some of the diners soon started tapping their feet and swaying their heads in time to the music. Even this reporter found himself tapping his pen to the beat against his notebook.
Slowly, one, and then another Bangladeshi started singing the Bengali lyrics together with Mr Israfil.
Familiar songs
One of them, Mr Siraj Bepari, 18, said the songs Mr Israfil sang were love songs popular in his homeland.
He said: 'We used to hear them on TV and radio back home in Bangladesh. Hearing the songs here reminded me so much of my home.'
An American tourist, who did not want to be named, said she was touched by how the people connected with Mr Israfil's songs.
Undergraduate Michelle Lim, 25, who was there with a friend, said she enjoyed Mr Israfil's soulful performance and was surprised at the similarity of his songs to those of Japanese folk music.
By the time the crooner started on his sixth and last song, the floor was filled with nearly 40 people, half of whom were Bangladeshi nationals.
The crowd was clapping loudly now and many were singing along with him.
When Mr Israfil finished, the people around him cheered.
Money from audience
A straw hat was passed around and those present contributed money which was then given to Mr Israfil.
A smiling Mr Israfil told the crowd: 'I am very happy so many people came to hear my singing. I am very pleased today.'
Then he and Mr Munirul sang another Bengali song together before everybody said their goodbyes and headed home.
Said Ms Lim: 'I hope there will be more of such performances in future.'
Injured foreign worker turns singer
Crowd swells at his debut performance in Serangoon last night
By Arul John
February 05, 2009
ENCORE: Mr Israfil Haque (far left) earning cheers during his debut show last night. TNP PICTURES: CHOO CHWEE HUA
HE EXPECTED no more than 20 people at his performance.
After all, he was not a professional singer or musician, just a migrant worker who's here in Singapore to make a living - until a workplace accident made him unable to continue working.
But Mr Israfil Haque, 29, a former shipyard worker, got a pleasant surprise when double that number of people turned up to listen to him.
The Bangladeshi national held a gathering yesterday at food#03, a vegetarian cafe off Serangoon Road.
The event was organised by two volunteers at the migrant worker group Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2).
Mr Israfil Haque.
Ms Sha Najak, 20, and Ms Ye Junjia, 27, wanted to showcase his musical talents and also thank him for the volunteer work he has done at TWC2.
Mr Israfil would sing six Bengali love songs and play the guitar.
At 8.30pm, there were about 10 other Bangladeshi nationals in the eatery, and an equal number of other diners.
Two other TWC2 volunteers were also filming the event.
Soon, Mr Israfil started his first song and strummed his guitar.
His countrymen, Mr Munirul Islam, 28, tapped to the rhythm on a wooden table in front of him.
Soon the solo performance sounded like a harmonious duet as Mr Munirul's tapping deftly accompanied Mr Israfil's singing and strumming.
Diners whipped out their handphones and digital cameras to take photographs, as more people, mostly Bangladeshi nationals, streamed in.
After each song, the applause from the crowd grew louder and more animated.
Some of the diners soon started tapping their feet and swaying their heads in time to the music. Even this reporter found himself tapping his pen to the beat against his notebook.
Slowly, one, and then another Bangladeshi started singing the Bengali lyrics together with Mr Israfil.
Familiar songs
One of them, Mr Siraj Bepari, 18, said the songs Mr Israfil sang were love songs popular in his homeland.
He said: 'We used to hear them on TV and radio back home in Bangladesh. Hearing the songs here reminded me so much of my home.'
An American tourist, who did not want to be named, said she was touched by how the people connected with Mr Israfil's songs.
Undergraduate Michelle Lim, 25, who was there with a friend, said she enjoyed Mr Israfil's soulful performance and was surprised at the similarity of his songs to those of Japanese folk music.
By the time the crooner started on his sixth and last song, the floor was filled with nearly 40 people, half of whom were Bangladeshi nationals.
The crowd was clapping loudly now and many were singing along with him.
When Mr Israfil finished, the people around him cheered.
Money from audience
A straw hat was passed around and those present contributed money which was then given to Mr Israfil.
A smiling Mr Israfil told the crowd: 'I am very happy so many people came to hear my singing. I am very pleased today.'
Then he and Mr Munirul sang another Bengali song together before everybody said their goodbyes and headed home.
Said Ms Lim: 'I hope there will be more of such performances in future.'
