OmanPride: Self-taught Omani singer wants to spread happiness through singing

"I sing to spread happiness among people. All I get from it is peace and satisfaction,” said 22-year-old Akif Al Balushi, a talented self-taught singer, who uses his music to bring a smile to other people’s faces.

Akif recalled his first big show, which he fondly remembered, was in a Pakistani school in Muscat, and held on public demand. Many disabled children studying in the school, who had been huge fans of his music, contacted him on social media, and requested him to perform for them.

“I had performed for disabled children from a Pakistani school here. Actually some of those students follow me on Instagram and Snapchat and they wanted to meet me. So I decided to meet them and perform for them.” About 5,000 people attended the event and his music created magic and touched the hearts and brought a smile to all those children who the show was dedicated to. While Akif refuses to charge for any show or performance that he does for a cause or for charity, he also doesn’t charge the first time he performs at a venue, for a company or event.

Being a young boy, who has dedicated his life and career to just singing with no alternate source of income, this speaks volumes of his generosity and determination to promote his passion and provides some enjoyment and entertainment to people in the process.
Currently, Akif is working on a cover song for a cancer patient, who is in the last stage based in Barka. The patient’s mother, realising her daughter’s affection and adoration for Akif’s singing, had contacted him. “I met her in the hospital and had a long chat with her. I decided to record a song and make a video for her after that,” recalled an emotional Akif.

Apart from performing on the beach and entertaining random passersby with his friends, Akif performs for shows in malls, in colleges, during festivals, and a lot of other places. Being a shy boy, he hesitates from promoting his talent openly and therefore relies on his friends and his director, Mohammed Ali, to encourage, motivate, and push him and his talent.

While his dream remains to become a world-renowned singer, he firmly believes that he will continue singing for those who need his music to soothe them or make them feel better when things aren’t right, as that is what gives him ultimate joy.
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