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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Fame Spreads Fast for Eight-Year-Old Yemeni Singer
It is a dangerous time to be a child in Yemen. Besides facing war, hunger and poverty, more than 25 percent of children are not in school.
But eight-year-old singer Amr Muqbel, known as "The Water Seller," is different.
He attends school in the morning. In the afternoons, he used to sell water to help support his family. Now, he makes extra money singing for weddings, fans and several major Arabic news channels.
"I'm proud he has become a singer," said Ahmed Muqbel, Amr's 70-year-old father, with tears in his eyes. One of their relatives is a soldier, he added, and Amr used to sing war songs.
Now, he sings about love and peace in a country where other children can be forced to join military groups.
"Children out of school face increased risks of all forms of exploitation1, including being forced to join the fighting, child labor2, and early marriage," said Sara Nyanti, UNICEF's representative in Yemen, in a statement.
Teachers in the schools have not been paid in more than two years. As the war continues, danger for children outside of the school system deepens3, workers for aid organizations say.
Growing fame
Amr first became well-known this year when a local hiker recorded him singing to a group of people. The hiker posted the recording4 on Facebook, where it received 20,000 likes, loves and sad faces.
Since then, the boy appears on Arab media regularly. He has appeared on BBC Arabic, Al Jazeera Arabic and RT Arabic.
Amr's family remains5 poor, however. He, his mother and his four siblings6 still struggle to survive in a small house. But as Amr gains the attention of music professionals, the family hopes his voice will help lift them further out of poverty.
"I didn't even know Amr was singing for the drivers," said Amr's mother, Muneerah, near her Sanaa home. "He sells water so he can earn money to pay for his private school fees. I used to reprimand Amr for singing while he did his homework."
Sobhi Mohammed is a renowned7 Syrian Kurdish music writer from Lebanon. He has expressed interest in mentoring9 Amr, inviting10 him through an online video to visit Lebanon. Mohammed has mentored11 other young people with musical skills, like Nomer El Beik and Amir Amuri from Syria.
"I was like Amr while still a little boy," Mohammed said in an online report. "I promised myself that I would assist12 every talented child who had no one."
Amr has not gone to Lebanon because of passport delays and competing ideas about his future. His father wants to go to Lebanon so Amr can try to get into the professional music business. His mother wants Amr to continue to be mentored locally, so he can sing more often at weddings to increase the family's income.
"I believe Amr will become a star," added Mohammed. "He has the voice and charisma13."
Yemenis hesitancy
Publicly, Amr has accepted Mohammed's invitation in an online video. Some of his local fans do not want him to leave.
"His songs come out from his heart," said Mohammed al-Adaimi, a 23-year-old who listens to Amr's songs on YouTube. "He should stay and sing for us and we will support him."
Like other fans, al-Adaimi is concerned Amr's musical style might change if he trains in Lebanon. He might learn a more common Lebanese style of Arab music.
Other local people said they are proud that a young Yemeni is getting international attention. "He is a talented boy," said Mabrouk al-Baqash, who has been listening to Amr sing for eight months. "It's fine to travel to Lebanon."
Words in This Story
exploitation - n. the act of to use (someone or something) in a way that helps you unfairly
hiker - n. someone who walks a long distance especially for pleasure and/or exercise
reprimand - v. to speak in an angry and critical way to (someone who has done something wrong, disobeyed an order, etc.)
mentor8 - v. to teach or give advice or guidance to (someone, such as a less experienced14 person or a child) : to act as a mentor for (someone)
talented - adj. having a special ability to do something well : having talent
charisma - n. a special charm15 or appeal that causes people to feel attracted and excited by someone (such as a politician)
style - n. a particular way in which something is done, created, or performed
1 exploitation | |
n.开采 | |
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2 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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3 deepens | |
v.变深,加深( deepen的第三人称单数 );加浓 | |
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4 recording | |
n.录音,记录 | |
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5 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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6 siblings | |
n.兄弟,姐妹( sibling的名词复数 ) | |
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7 renowned | |
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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8 mentor | |
n.指导者,良师益友;v.指导 | |
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9 mentoring | |
n.mentoring是一种工作关系。mentor通常是处在比mentee更高工作职位上的有影响力的人。他/她有比‘mentee’更丰富的工作经验和知识,并用心支持mentee的职业(发展)。v.(无经验之人的)有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的现在分词 ) | |
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10 inviting | |
adj.诱人的,引人注目的 | |
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11 mentored | |
v.(无经验之人的)有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12 assist | |
vt.协助,帮助,促进;vi.帮忙,参加 | |
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13 charisma | |
n.(大众爱戴的)领袖气质,魅力 | |
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14 experienced | |
adj.有经验的;经验丰富的,熟练的 | |
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15 charm | |
vt.使着迷,使陶醉;n.招人喜欢之处,魅力 | |
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