Dubai: Meet the Pakistani street performer with Indian music expertise

This Pakistani national could be among the few first in the list who has experienced culture beyond borders. Shabbir Ahmed, an artist who plays dhol (an Indian musical instrument) has been into traditional music from his childhood. Although he is a Pakistani, love for Indian music grew irrespective of boundaries.

“There is no differentiation. We belong to the same ethnicity and more than the division people love my music, no matter where they are from,” said Ahmed.

Ahmed has been playing the instrument for the last eight years at the Global Village and enjoys the attention he gets from the visitors. “It’s not only the Indians, Pakistanis, or expats from the sub-continent dance to my tunes, but also the Arabs, Europeans and Americans love whatever I do with this instrument,” said Ahmed.

“Many visitors from the West specially walk up to me to take a selfie with me. It’s not that I am attractive, but music bonds people from many parts of the world,” added Ahmed.

He performs 10 shows near India Pavilion at an interval of 30 minutes with large number or crowd gathered around him from the first show starting at 4pm. “The best part is that children are a lot excited as compared to the adults. They move, dance and shake their legs which provide me with more energy,” said Ahmed.