Boujemma Razgui, a flute virtuoso was flying back to his home base, New York City when Customs agents smashed nearly a dozen of his instruments.
The Canadian artist who possessed a green card relays that he was on his way home for the holidays from Marrakech, Morocco when Customs authorities opened his bag and found the instruments, which he referred to as ney flutes. "I told them I had these instruments for many years and flew with them in and out,' he reported to Slipped Disc and continues, 'There were 11 instruments in all. They told me they were agricultural products and they had to be destroyed. There was nothing I could do. The ney flute can be made with bamboo. Is that agricultural?"
While it might be unusual that Customs smashed his musical instruments, the US Customs have very strict regulations when it comes to traveling with raw material. "In general, bamboo that is not thoroughly dried and is therefore still capable of propagation is prohibited entry into the United States. Bamboo that is thoroughly dried and split or cut lengthwise (rendering it incapable of propagation) will be inspected upon entry and released." US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) website reads.
It is unclear as to whether or not the artist's flutes were made of bamboo that wasn't thoroughly dried or if the Customs agents who are yet to comment on the incident did not follow certain guidelines.
Boujemma says that each instrument was handmade, most have been with him since childhood. Slipped Disc reports that the artist's English was not perfect and clear, which may have also perplexed the Customs authorities. The flute master, who has performed in countless shows and with different groups, including the prestigious Boston Camerata reports that he has been traveling with these flutes all the time.
"Of course l will not hurt any body with nays. They were my huge art connection with North America and Europe, through churches, synagogues (all of them in Montreal and almost all in Toronto), universities, colleges, theaters, com.centers , mosques, all kind of ceremonies , marriages, helulas , barMetzvahs, you name it."
An ensemble director told Slipped Disc, "I can't think of an uglier, stupider thing for the US government to do than to deprive this man of the tools of his art and a big piece of his livelihood."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
