Sufi Music Fest
Three Bangladeshi troupes will present mystic songs that have close connotations and links with Sufism in the upcoming three-day (January 27-29) International Sufi Music Festival to set off on January 27 at Army Museum grounds in Dhaka. Blues Communications has, for the first time, organised the festival to make a musical bridge and to inspire cultural exchange among artistes and troupe of countries across the globe.
The festival will feature distinctive patterns, aspects and styles of Sufi music of Danish, Spanish, Egyptian, Brazilian, Tunisian, Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani and Indo-African origins.
Rob Fakir, Shofi Mandal and Baby Aktar will perform mystic songs composed by Fakir Lalon Shai. Labik Kamal Gaurob and Friends will perform songs composed by Fakir Lalon Shai, Hason Raja and Kala Shai while Arnob and Friends will perform folk, mystic and urban rock genres at the festival.
The lyrics of Lalon's songs were explicitly meant to engage in philosophical discourses. He critically re-appropriated various philosophical positions emanating from the conventional Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Islamic traditions -- developing them into a coherent school of thought. His songs have attracted widespread attention for their mystical approach to humanism as well as their melodious tunes.
“I look forward to performing at the festival as the way Shai jee leads me to. My focus will be on the numbers that delineate human beings. Besides, I hope to perform Nabiyati gaan like 'Nabi Din-er Rasul' and 'Elahi Almin Go Allah'; songs evoking Dehotwatto, Gurutwatto and more,” said Rob Fakir.
Seasoned Lalon singer and teacher Shofi Mandal -- who has taken part in Sufi festivals in several countries, said, “Lalon Shai jee's songs have two major gharanas -- Sufism and Vaishnavism. I aspire to perform those songs that have Sufi links. Besides, I'll offer songs based on his other Twatto. Lalon Fakir popularised a preceptor- disciple oriented tradition; the core value of this is humanism. When I sing his verses, I feel Lalon's presence in my songs. I'm no more than a conduit. I mingle both folk and classical music styles in my rendition of “bhaab” or “mahajani” sangeet.”
“Lalon lived what he had written in his lifetime. Bangladeshi folk music boasts one of the most opulent heritages in Asia. In-depth research needs to be carried out with proper preserving system for further development of the genre,” asserted Mandal.
Labik Kamal Gaurob and Friends' repertoire will include Lalon's songs themed on Atmotwatto, Gurutwatto and Dehotwatto. Gaurob will present a Kala Shai song, while Nobonita Chowdhury will perform Lalon songs and a Hason Raja song.
“Sufism has close links with Baul cult. We'll explain Shai jee's twatto in Bangla and English in our performances. We are excited to take part in the festival with other maestros like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan,” said Gaurob.
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