Amid the escalating economic crisis in Lebanon, many are resorting to changing their professions due to the deteriorating living conditions and the devaluation of the national currency against the US dollar. Some university graduates from all fields are now searching for alternative jobs that offer better income. Mathematics and physics teacher George Sheikh, who holds a degree in civil engineering and has a passion for music, decided to embark on a unique experience in the craft of making the buzuq, a traditional musical instrument somewhat resembling the oud.
When the crisis intensified in Lebanon in 2019, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheikh decided to invest what few dollars he had left into purchasing equipment and setting up a workshop for buzuq making. He states that when the crisis hit, he resolved to completely change the course of his life. Chance played a role in choosing the path he took; it was fate that led him to establish his footing in this craft. At 32 years old, George has managed to create nearly 50 buzuqs to date.
