Set Me Free

Last year from his detention cell in Brisbane, Ahwazi Arab refugee poet-artist Jalal Mahamede recited his poems via Zoom while Sydney-based composer-flautist-pianist Keyna Wilkins improvised. Thanks to Australia being on COVID-19 lockdown, Wilkins’ musical responses and those of 19 of her musician friends, were recorded for this album in their respective homes. Jalal Mahamede had been incarcerated on Nauru, then Christmas Island and Brisbane for a total of over nine years, so unsurprisingly the themes are of (in)justice and imprisonment/freedom. But as well as the sheer suffering suffusing the poetry, a narrative of hope emerges, supported by the sympathetic and meditative musical contributions.

The album features 12 tracks in all. The combinations of instruments vary from piece to piece, the transcultural theme underlined by the wide range of instruments: from darbuka and didgeridoo to electric viola da gamba, flute and trumpet. Naturally the styles of the contributions vary too and include some charming instrumental interludes as in ‘Doomed to Life’ and ‘When I Hug You’. An essential reminder of refugees’ innate humanity and worth, Set Me Free is a sombrely beautiful album. It was released at the end of 2021 and two weeks later Mahamede himself, at last, was released from detention.