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A Man of Many Firsts: A Conversation with Master Calligrapher Yushaa Abdullah

A Man of Many Firsts: A Conversation with Master Calligrapher Yushaa Abdullah

Yushaa Abdullah is a pioneer. He is one of the first master calligraphers from Nigeria who brought the art, and support from Istanbul to the whole of the Black African Region. He is a man of many firsts. He is the first person in the African region to receive an Ijazah or diploma in Arabic calligraphy, studying under Turkish grandmaster Hasan Çelebi.

Calligraphy is Persistence: Profile of Calligrapher Shahryanshah Sirajuddin

Calligraphy is Persistence: Profile of Calligrapher Shahryanshah Sirajuddin

Benjamin Franklin once said, “energy and persistence conquers all things.” If there is a calligrapher that embodies those words, Shahryanshah Sirajuddin is one. We begin a new year of artist profiles with someone whose determination and love of calligraphy brought him to Turkey, all the way from Indonesia. His sincere journey to learn the art of calligraphy is an inspiration for us living in the west where classes and teachers are not so readily available. His story teaches us that with persistence and energy any creative skill, not matter how overwhelming, can be learned.