JUMA is a cross-cultural world/folk group that unites the Syrian with the Nordic. The Syrian musician Bakri Hemmami came to Denmark in 2015 after fleeing Aleppo. As many others Bakri has left everything behind but he has carried the music with him all the way and he now play it along with the rest of JUMA. Read more about their experience at Tønder Festival 2021.

How was it to be at Tønder Festival in some different surroundings than normal?

Tønder Festival is and has always been amazing! This year was no exception but we sure missed some of the nerve and presence that happens on the festival site – we missed the dust and the sun that connects us all. Nonetheless it was a great alternative.

Is it good to be back on stage?

It has been fantastic – you feel at home again and at the same time it’s incredibly privileged to finally be able to play concerts and experience the huge amount of love that exists between musicians and the audience. I think we first really understood how much we missed it when we were on stage again.

What has been the best experience during Folk Spot?

It’s hard to pin-point a specific experience because the entire weekend was a cornucopia of love and joy. When we got there, we were welcomed by everyone from the audience and volunteers to technicians and the other bands. But to play for a filled venue at Schweizerhalle at Tønder Festival was definitely a highlight – both for our recently finished tour and in general for our band.

Have you kept in musical training during the Corona pandemic?

We have played as much as possible. Last year we were able to play a few live-streamed concerts and even though it has been a great experience, nothing compares to the love you feel when you play in front of a real audience.

Now that the world is open again, what is JUMA’s next move?

We would like to record more music and then we’re of course off to play loads of concerts. Music is a community and it must be experienced in the company of others – and even though we just got home from our tour we can’t wait to get on the road again.

Besides that we have plans of collaborating with different municipalities in Denmark to build a bridge between the Danish minorities and the etchnic Danes. We want to play pop-up concerts in vulnerable neighbourhoods so the culture come get’s out to the places where it’s really needed.

Photo: Bo Petersen, NoLightStudio