The Najjar Phenomena

Martin Luther King and Malcol X would have been proud of this one African American who has spread goodwill and love and friendship among many hearts in Malaysia. The African American - Malaysian- Connection is in the colours of the flag on the wall. This is what can be achieved by the individuals who strive to promote goodwill and friendship across the boarders through sharing of time and space and a sense of creativity.

Standing tall and delivering his wisdom and creativity sharing space and time, Najjar Musawwir came to Malaysia to seek out a long lost friend and he left with a string of new ones most of whom will never forget his brief but eventful visit.
The artist makes his marks not only on plywood boards and canvasses but in the hearts of man women and child wherever he goes.

I was privillaged to have been able to play a supporting role alongside this Boisterous and effective personality and this experience has left me with strong memories. Najjar added spice to my childrens' life as well as mine. Many a word of wisdom and advice sank in while we were interacting, it was as though I was visited by an African American Zen Master.

Hasnul Jamal Saidon is one lucky man to have met this charactor and vice versa for in their meeting some twenty years ago they had set in motion a strong creative energy that swept into everyone's heart wherever and whoever that came into the sphere of its influence.

My daughter sadly was not in time to see Najjar off at KLIA, however she and her friends were there. I am glad she did have an opportunity to meet him while on her visit home to Penang.

Hasnul's Mom must have been quite a lady in her younger days, she is quite a power house today I can tell.

The many trips we took together with Najjar allowed for me to make connections with people who were important in our own personal lives such as Hasnul's Pparents and his eldest daughter.

We felt young again for a brief period of time as we toured the city taking pictures like regular tourists, with Najjar everything seemed a new experience. No one will miss him more than Aizuan who had abdicated his new home in Balik Pulau to allow for Najjar and me to put up for the duration of Najjar's stay here.

All through his visit here Najjar had the uncanniest sense of good luck as he was able to meet most of the prominent or those should be met or worth meeting contemporary artists in Malaysia.

And not to mention one or two celebrities thrown in in the course of his stay. We had a long chat with Wan Zaleha and her sisters at the National Art Gallery, she is said to be very popular at one time as a TV personality among other things. I thought her sister, a lecturer in psychology?, was very perceptive and intelligent too.

Chance meeting with Shukri and Umi in front of the NAG in KL.Twice i metioned to Hasnul that we should drop by at Shukri's home studio for Najjar to meet the couple but we ended meeting them at the NAG instead. Although wqe were not able to spend much time together it was just nice to be able to touch base and keep the ties strong between artists in this country.