Back to 2004, I, Abdallah Rouhli, was looking to learn the oud when I spotted Anwar Abudragh’s smiling face in a magazine from the Arab Cultural Center in Brussels. Something about it pulled me in—I called him, and that moment sparked not just music lessons, but a lasting friendship.
Despite my busy life with work and family, we stayed connected, dreaming up projects that celebrated Arabic music and culture. Our ideas grew—centers, orchestras, schools—and eventually took us to Luxembourg, then beyond.
Anwar & Abdallah in Massy Hall Canada 2022
Though we faced setbacks, we kept going. While I stayed in Belgium, Anwar moved ahead, and Canada became the place where our dreams took root. In Mississauga, he built the Maqamat International Academy of Arts and Heritage and the Maqamat International Orchestra, while I handled support from afar.
Today, those dreams are alive and thriving. Our journey wasn’t easy, but it was full of heart. And we’re not done yet—new projects are on the horizon, fueled by the same passion that brought us together years ago.
Abdallah Rouhli
