Image Source: U.S. Embassy – The Hague
I came across this blog post announcing Kareem Salama’s global tour. I had no idea who Kareem Salama was, but there was the video on the post, and I was curious, so I watched it. Here’s this American guy, obviously educated, touring the world singing his Western country music. Hmm…okay. Common enough. So what’s the interesting twist? He’s an Arab, and he’s Muslim!
There’s an interesting paradox there (at least, in the mainstream consciousness) that this guy is beginning to break—and I love him for it. When we think of American country music, Muslims and Arabs are the last listeners we associate the music with. They seem so foreign from the country music realm. The music and culture are worlds apart, just as the diverse Islamic cultures and equally diverse American cultures are. Then out of the blue comes Kareem Salama who embodies both the American country singer and the follower of Islam like it’s the most natural thing in the world! It IS the most natural thing in the world—for him, and we have much to be grateful for for it.
During the interview with Sky News, the interviewer was asking all sorts of questions attempting to figure out the reconciliation of the American country music with the teachings of Islam, of Kareem and his gig. As the interviewer aptly put it, people can’t get their heads around it. True enough! But Kareem is the right person in the right place at the right time. He eloquently addresses the doubts and wonder and incredulities that the interviewer so splendidly expressed for the rest of us.
I have high hopes for Kareem’s message and influence in, at the very least, softening the relationships between Muslims and the Western world. We are all humans after all when everything is said and done. We are not as alien to each other as we make ourselves to be.
P.S.
This post is from the point of view of a hopeful Christian, Filipino American. 
Tags: a wish for peace, culture, music
![2009-11-13 Day 2 [Palais Het Loo, Apeldoorn]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vXRygdV3IMc/SwXK6quufYE/AAAAAAAACOs/IPpY2MFnrcw/s64-c/20091113Day2PalaisHetLooApeldoorn.jpg "2009-11-13 Day 2 [Palais Het Loo, Apeldoorn]")
My hubby and I went to his web site (http://www.myspace.com/kareemsalama) and listened to his songs. That’s what i like in country music, it does have a story. His is more on pop country, others are like gospel songs, which my hubby likes.
Thanks Hannah, he’s really good and intelligent.
Thank you for the link, Noeds!
At one point, the interviewer mentioned that country music is all about women, loves lost, and getting drunk and then asked Kareem how that reconciles with Islam. I had to laugh. People automatically associate these subjects with country music and ridicule it, but nobody seems to want to acknowledge that other music genres embrace them just as much. Huh! Of course, Kareem gave a very elegant answer compared to my very crude one.
Hahaha, kindly remove the s sa musics Hannah. pwede ma edit, lack of sleep yon a.
When my husband feels to cook, he goes to Kareem’s site and plays his music. kaya siguro sumasarap luto nya.