Salem
Al-Sayed

In the coastal city of Yanbu, Salem Al-Sayed, or "Uncle Salem," was born and remained, a witness to changing generations and enduring landmarks. Since childhood, he saw wood not merely as a material, but as the beginning of a story. And when one of his teachers guided him toward the local carpenter, he found the path he had been seeking.

From that moment, wood opened doors he hadn't imagined. He learned from "Uncle Hamza," the man who first handed him a hammer and a saw, granting him a diploma not written, but practiced. With the very first sawdust, his journey into the world of carpentry and musical instrument making began.

Uncle Salem wasn't making music, but rather the tools for it. The Qanun, the Oud, and the Simsimiyya, instruments he brought forth from the wood, planting in them the memory of the place and the soul of the sea. The Simsimiyya became the companion of the sailors, easing their loneliness and enlivening their distant nights with a familiar sound.

For this reason, Salem continues his craft; not just to build instruments, but to keep the heritage alive, through a note heard, a form seen, and a message passed down.