Music, Empowerment, and Hope in Exilic Communities
Approximately ninety years ago, Traugott Fuchs, in his quest to escape the oppressive regime of Nazi Germany, found solace in Istanbul, where he clung to life through the company of friends and students, as well as his vibrant art, collections, and writings. In the late 2010s, I, on the other hand, departed from Turkey and am currently attempting to build a life for myself in Europe. I feel alive through the power of the music I create and the solidarity of the people I've encountered along the way. And I am certain that this is not an isolated story. Through an examination of the intricate interplay between migration, exile, and music, and drawing from my own personal experiences, this paper has illuminated the profound influence of music in the lives of those compelled to depart from their homelands and confront the trials of displacement. Its primary objective has been to enrich our comprehension of music's function in nurturing resilience, safeguarding cultural identity, and forging communities. In doing so, it connects the mundane with the political, the personal with the collective, and underscores the inherent capacity of music as a catalyst for positive transformation in the lives of migrants and exiles.