Saber Bamatraf

Saber Bamatraf is a Yemeni musician and cultural activist. He is a self-taught pianist and composer known for his activism and artistic collaboration with his wife the visual artist Shatha Altowai.

Bamatraf's collaborative activism with his wife has appeared on various film and media outlets and at festivals. Notable features include BBC Scotland’s Loop (Series 4, Episode 3), the short film When the Music Stops by Declassified UK, and the documentary Voice of the Rainbow at Karama Human Rights Film Festival, in addition to the theatre play Saber Came to Tea at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Early life and education Saber Bamatraf was born in 1988, in Aden (Democratic Yemen, now Yemen) to a Hadhrami family originally from Ghayl Ba Wazir. He attended elementary school in Ghayl Ba Wazir before moving to the capital, Sana'a, where he spent most of his life. In 2013, Bamatraf graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology with honours from Universiti Utara Malaysia, completing his studies at the university's Sana'a branch.

During his university years, Bamatraf met Shatha Altowai, a fellow student pursuing the same degree. The two married in August 2014,

Early career in Yemen After graduating in 2013, Saber Bamatraf began working in the humanitarian sector with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Sana'a, while simultaneously participating in the creative industry through small-scale events. Although he had been playing the piano since childhood, Bamatraf considers his marriage to Shatha Altowai in August 2014 was the start of his artistic journey.

Following their marriage, Bamatraf drew inspiration from his wife's artworks to compose original music pieces that often explored societal issues and their personal journey.

Struggle during wartime In July 2015, Bamatraf's home was damaged in a Saudi-led Coalition airstrike targeting a neighbouring building, forcing him and his wife to become displaced. The couple regards this event as a major setback to their artistic practice. Furthermore, according to the couple, their efforts to engage in the public sphere as an artistic duo were met with societal challenges, reflecting broader conservative and patriarchal norms in Yemen where women’s participation in public and artistic roles is often viewed as sensitive or unconventional. and were featured in a short documentary titled Voice of the Rainbow ,

The poster for the film, depicting Bamatraf and his wife surrounded by art and music materials, led to a controversy from the Houthi rebel group. The Houthis accused the film and the festival of "promoting moral decadence and advancing an agenda that serves the enemy," which led to the suspension of the festival. The controversy escalated into threats against the couple, ultimately forcing them to cease their public art practice during their remaining time in Yemen.

The controversy around the film The hosting organisation of the Karama Human Rights Film Festival, Yemen Will Triumph (now known as Youth of The World Together), had previously announced that the event aimed to shed light on the suffering of Yemeni people caught in the fires of war. The festival also sought to highlight issues affecting displaced persons, the rights and challenges faced by women and children, and the broader impacts of war on these vulnerable groups. Additionally, it intended to address themes of democracy, peace, and coexistence.

In contrast, some individuals supported the cancellation, alleging that the festival and similar initiatives served "suspicious organisations" funded by external adversaries. They argued for stricter oversight of such activities.

In a research tilted The Role of Arts in Peacebuilding in Yemen (2021) published by the Centre for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO), Saber Bamatraf and Shatha Altowai revealed the challenges they faced seeking relocation due to widespread visa rejections for Yemeni nationals. While sending multiple urgent applications to organisations, they expressed frustration that some of the individuals responsible for the harassment campaign against them were being recognised and welcomed with gifts at the Stockholm negotiations in December 2018, which was between the conflicting parties, the government of Yemen and the Houthi rebels.

Move to Edinburgh In November 2020, Saber Bamatraf relocated to Edinburgh after being awarded the IIE-Artist Protection Fund award, which was hosted within the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) within the University of Edinburgh from 2020 to 2021, his wife Shatha has also received a separate award from the Artist Protection Fund within the same period, allowing both of them to resume their artistic endeavours after years of challenges in a conflict-ridden environment.

During his fellowship, Bamatraf released a series of music compositions as part of his research project. His creative output included his second album, Embrace from Edinburgh. Concurrently, he participated in research initiatives exploring the intersections of art, conflict, and women's issues. At the conclusion of his fellowship, Bamatraf co-created a short play titled Saber Came to Tea.

Embrace from Edinburgh (2021) In July 2021, Saber Bamatraf released his second album, Embrace from Edinburgh, coinciding with the opening of his wife Shatha Altowai’s exhibition, The White Canvas, at IASH within the University of Edinburgh. The album comprises seven original New Age compositions, written following his relocation to Edinburgh, and reflects the inspiration drawn from the city's landscapes, history, and atmosphere. The music explores themes of peace, resilience, and transition after years of uncertainty in a conflict-affected environment.

This was followed by BBC Scotland’s Loop (Series 4, Episode 3), titled A Journey to Creative Freedom.

Bamatraf also appeared in the short film When the Music Stops by Declassified UK, released in March 2022, which reflected on Britain's arms trade and its impact on his life and work.

In September 2023, Bamatraf has given a keynote speech at the Res Artis conference that was held at University College London, where he addressed the challenges faced by artists at risk of persecution due to their identities or activism.

Selected discography Albums Turning Point (2021) Arabia (2019) Dear Her (2019) The Pursuit of Liberty (2021) The White Canvas (2021)

Covers Dhabi AlYaman (2021)