“Rohingya Realities; Rohingya Futures” - Winners of Oxfam’s 2020 Art Competition

August 2020 marks three years since the start of a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar, which resulted in more than 700,000 Rohingya people fleeing to Bangladesh in search of safety. To help mark this moment, Oxfam asked Rohingya artists to share works reflecting on their own experiences and dreams for the future.  

We received a wide range of visual art, photography, music and poetry from artists in Bangladesh, Myanmar and further afield. From the submissions received, a committee of Oxfam staff selected these 12 winning entries. The artwork speaks to the incredible resilience of the Rohingya community as artists reflect upon past hardships and trauma, daily joys, and their hopes for a more peaceful future.

Selected pieces reflect the views and opinions of individual artists and do not necessarily reflect those of Oxfam.

Acknowledgements

Oxfam would like to thank all the wonderful artists who shared their stories and artwork with us. We hope you continue to create and share your stories with the world.The following artists who participated in this project have been awarded honorable mentions: Abu Bokor Sedik, Johara, Juhura, Junaied, M Zubair, Mamun Rafique, MD Aiyas, MD Jaber, Mohammed Asom, Mohammed Younus, Noor Hakim, Sahat@Zia Hero Naing, and Samjida.

Oxfam would also like to acknowledge the support of the Community Outreach Members of ActionAid Bangladesh’s ‘Community-Based Protection Project’ project supported by UNHCR, the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), and the many Rohingya activists who helped to circulate the call for submissions.

To follow more stories as told by Rohingya artists check out the following initiatives:

  • The Art Garden Rohingya is the first Rohingya community-based online poetry website with about 200 emerging young Rohingya poets involved.
  • Omar’s Film School is based in Kutupalong Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The school trains Rohingya youth in photography and videography.
  • Rohingya Photography Competition for Rohingya refugees initiated by Shafiur Rahman, UK-based journalist and activist.
     

Rohingya refugee crisis

Close to a million Rohingya people, more than half of them children, have fled violence in Myanmar to seek refuge across the border in Bangladesh. Learn more about the Rohingya Crisis, Oxfam’s response on both sides of the border and how you can help.

 

 

Lost generation by Azad Mohammed

Azad Mohammed - "Lost generation"

 

 

My Buddhist Friend

Dear friend,
We were born in the same country.
We grew up in the same village.
We studied in the same school.
We sing the same national anthem.
And living in the same motherland.

Why do you ignore
To call me with my own identity?
Why don’t you accept me?
As a human being?
Just because I’m a Muslim?

Dear friend,
We inhale the same oxygen.
We drink the same water.
We walk on the same roads.
We share the same nation.
And living in the same union.

Why can’t I travel
As free as you can?
Why can’t I celebrate my festivals?
The way you do yours freely?
Why can’t I enjoy my rights?
As same as you can?
Why? Why?
Just because I’m a Muslim?

‘Quick Learner’ - "My Buddhist Friend"

 

 

Because We are Rohingya

Birds can fly freely. 
They can live freely.
They can pasture foodstuff their ways. 
But we, Rohingya can't,
Do you know why?
   
Being born in the same land,
Having the same mundane title as human,
You can enjoy the basic rights.
But we, Rohingya can't,
Do you know why?

Being studied in the same class,
But we are not allowed to sit in first seat 
Being passed the same matriculation 
But we are not allowed to attend the university 
You can do as you wish but we cannot. 
Do you know why?
Because we are Muslims,
And Rohingya.

Myo Thway - "Because We Are Rohingya"

 

 

The Life of Rohingya Women in the Refugee Camp, illustration by Mayuu Khan

Mayuu Khan - "The Life of Rohingya Women in the Refugee Camp"

 

 

Boshir Ullah - Flute performance

 

 

Flying Our Voice to the People of the World, illustration by Mohammed Ershad

Mohammed Ershad - "Flying Our Voice to the People of the World"

 

 

Women Life, Livelihood and Leisure, illustration by Sajide Begum

Sajide Begum - "Women Life, Livelihood and Leisure"

 

 

Untitled illustration by Jesmin Ara & Husana

Jesmin Ara & Husana - untitled illustration

 

 

Osman goni and omar’s film school - "Covid19 Awareness Song in Rohingya Language"

 

 

“Rohingya Women Dream”

We are the survivors of an inequitable life,
living as no life of human being,
As we people of world ignorance,
Only named by Rohingya refugee,
For us, everything is limited even the movements.

Cannot find a way to improve,
It has been three years, having refugee life,
No changes or solutions come out,
No one care of our rights,
No one care of our dreams.

Once, we had home, villages and school in Arakan,
But now, the damaged tents in the camp,
Waiting for line up to receive food,
Nevertheless, we haven't lost our ambitions,
Being refugees fear or murder our dream.

Likewise, women in our own country,
We were like blooming rose in the garden,
But now, we are being unprotected in the camp,
Where women feel worst safe,
Shelters like birdcage and camp like jail,
Can go nowhere except sorrowful world.

Are refugee women call women of difficulty?
That's we face restriction to study,
Forced for marriage although we are too young,
Our tears are flooding inside our world,
Are women weak or scapegoat for situation?

Students were happy in schools,
Genocide has ruined their student's life,
Fled the native land and lost education,
Killed their intelligences and talents,
Nowhere they are learning, now here too.

A partial life we are living through it is a hard lesson,
Lost, losing but ever trying to overcome,
However, the days, years, and time are passing,
That's increasing our hopes and dreams,
One day, our realities will bring us to our goal.

Want to convert to a peaceful life,
Want not to hear anymore calling us refugees,
Want to spend the precious time,
Want to erase the words discrimination and racism from people's minds.

Every single should have their rights and liberty,
As an individual should have the ability to do anything,
That they want in their life without persecution,
We should behave in an assertive way, not submissive.

Parmin Fatema - "Rohingya Women Dream"

 

 

“I'm a Rohingya”

A huge blessing upon me that
The Almighty God created me a human
But a huge tragedy of mine that
My birth was given to a Rohingya family
Because the world is too narrow
To host a Rohingya quite enough
I can belong to no piece of piece on this Earth
Despite an innocent one like a lamb.

I don't know how to live life
I learned just how to survive my life
Because I have been a forever survivor since my I came into this planet.
I heard much about freedom of life
But I could never ever taste it, bitter or sweet.
People say that they enjoy their lives
I am curious to take part in the enjoyment
But I can't do at all
Just because I'm a Rohingya.

I see people get all their dreams fulfilled
But the dreams I dream always remain as dreams
Although I try my damnedest to make them come true.
Just because I'm a Rohingya.
Being a Rohingya is my absolute fault.

My pa and ma told me that I was born on this Earth
And my teachers explained to me the same in class too
I believed that I'm indeed from here
But I found myself that I'm from nowhere.
Wherever I go,
Whenever it is,
Whatever I do,
All become zero even if I'm a hero.
It's just because I'm a Rohingya.
Is it my fault that I'm being a Rohingya?

I want to express my story to the World
But I find no one to hear me
Because my voice is not sweet being a Rohingya refugee.
The world is too blind to even see the ongoing tortures me.

Still I'm hardly alive
Despite a big victim of Genocide.
Still I want to build my life as others
I am eager to make a beautiful future
I wish to develop my planet by applying my ability
I believe that I can be part of the change of this world
Let me be what I want
Let me perform what I wish
Let me belong to the parts I deserve.

‘Ro Pacifist’ - "I’m a Rohingya"