Curtains rise on Sufi Fest today
The first edition of the Sufi Fest Dhaka 2015 will see its curtains rise today, at the Army Museum grounds in the capital's Bijoy Sarani. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will inaugurate the three-day festival that brings together 15 artistes and musical groups from eight countries.
Bangladeshi artistes will open the festival on each day, with Arnob and his group setting the festival in motion. Their music draws melodic and lyrical inspiration from a wide range of sources, from Rabindranath's poetry to the simplicity of folk or the mysticism of bauls.
Tunisian group Mechket, who promote Tunisian Sufi music and offer an opportunity to the public to enjoy Sufi in a modern perspective, will perform next. Their music is a combination of Turkish, Indian and Tunisian music. The compositions are distinguished by offbeat tracks keeping with the traditional music genre and marked in particular by a freshness and desire for renewal and innovation.
Sidi Goma, a group of artistes from Gujarat, India of African ancestry will then take the stage. Sidi Goma mingles native African music styles, rhythmic and melodic structures with local cultural influences to create a unique sound.
The evening's final performer will be Javed Ali, the Indian playback singer who has made a name for himself for his soulful voice and the type of songs he performs. Son of popular qawwali singer Ustad Hamid Hussain, Ali is adept in Hindi, Bangla, Kannada, Tamil and Telegu. He has worked extensively with AR Rahman, most notably in songs like “Kun Faya Kun (“Rockstar”) and “Guzarish” (“Ghajini”).
The event begins at 6pm but gates will open at 5pm, with seating based on first-come-first-serve.
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