The success of Caliph Buskers, a street musical group consisting of disabled musicians, at the recent TV3’s ‘Anugerah Juara Lagu 29’ has created much excitement within the music industry.
Spurred by the group’s achievement, vocalist Khairul Azmi Minute, 28, who has gained sudden popularity, suggested doing charity performances for a start. “I didn’t expect such an overwhelming reception from the public. Apart from it being a source of income, we’ll do charity performances to help fellow buskers, especially those like us,” he said.
Khairul’s noble aim was realised when Caliph Buskers was invited to perform in a charity event organised by Umno Youth Ipoh Barat and Yayasan Bina Upaya at Mat Periuk Cafe in Bercham recently.
“Events like this can help foster closer relationship among buskers and help improve their image. It goes to show that the buskers are capable of participating in social service programmes like other able-bodied people,” he said after entertaining more than 500 spectators at the cafe.
The special programme, presented by Kelab Penghibur Jalanan Malaysia, provided Caliph Buskers the opportunity to perform five songs, including ‘Roman Cinta’, the song that helped popularise the group.
The community’s acceptance, said Khairul, was beyond his expectation. It was a timely boost to the group’s morale. “We’ll make efforts to improve with time. It’ll not come so sudden, as we still have much to learn. However, we are grateful to the Almighty for this good fortune,” he exclaimed.
Yayasan Bina Upaya’s International Relations Unit officer, Salim Ahmad Shibi said that monetary contributions from the public would be channeled directly into the foundation’s kitty to assist buskers, in general.
“We had organised a number of programmes for street musicians in the past, the success of Caliph Buskers has proven that these musicians are able to contribute to society in their very own way,” he said.
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