Young refugees took to the stage at The Smokehouse after an eight-week-long course to enhance their music skills. 

Suffolk Refugee Support and Ipswich Community Media worked on the Making Waves Project, which allowed refugees between the ages of 14 and 25 to learn percussion and DJ skills. 

Their eight-week course on music concluded on Wednesday when three of them performed at The Smokehouse.

Mustafai was able to mix the Arabic and Western music styles.Mustafai was able to mix the Arabic and Western music styles. (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

Daryas Mustafai, one of the performers, said that he had enjoyed this experience so much that he wanted to pursue music further. 

Mustafai is a Kurdish refugee, and his set involved mixing Arabic and Western music, through drums, DJ sets and singing.

"It was an amazing experience for me and I am very happy that these people [the charities] gave me this opportunity to learn music and perform here," he added. 

(LtoR) Aldcroft, Fothergill, and Templeman helped set up this event. (LtoR) Aldcroft, Fothergill, and Templeman helped set up this event. (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

Mixing musical styles was part of teacher George Fothergill's plan. 

Mr Fothergill runs Status Creative CIC and was hired by the charities to coach the young refugees through their sets. 

He said: "Music goes far beyond language, and so even though we had a language barrier through just the rhythms we were able to communicate."

Sarah Templeman, youth coordinator at Suffolk Refugee Support, said the course had given the performers a huge confidence boost. 

Osman said that the course was very fun an enjoyale for himOsman said that the course was very fun for him. (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

The evening started with a fun mix of melodies performed by Walidien Osman, from Sudan.

He was followed by Said Heyle, who came to Ipswich from Somalia and took inspiration from several cultures. 

All three performers and Mr Fothergill then performed a melody combining various percussion instruments. 

Heyle thanked all those who helped set up this course.Heyle thanked all those who helped set up this course. (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

All three thanked the charities for their support over the last two months. 

Making Waves' organiser Helen Aldcroft said: "We have got on very well with them during what has been a very tough time for them and feel that efforts like these helped them a lot."