Silent Spaces

Members of “Ghazal”, the all-female Sufi music band from Iran.

Flamboyant flamenco from Spain, mystic melodies from Azerbaijan, music and dance by an Indian community that traces its origins to East Africa -- all these and more figured at the recent 3rd International Sufi Festival in New Delhi.
Starting off with the Pinana brothers' group from Spain, the music of the flamenco guitar and voice by Curro and Carlos Pinana, were perfectly matched. The guitar riffs set off the evening, as the vocalist took over with songs that spoke the language of love, peace and search for the divine. If the vocals couldn't be faulted, neither could the lithe flamenco dancer whose steps held the audience captive as she dramatically shifted from easy to increasingly complex and sensuous moves.
Next in the line-up of the first day was the four-member Mugam group from Azerbaijan. While the three instrumentalists lent a touch of the exotic to their performance, the showstopper was 57-year-old Sakina Ismayilova. Her unwavering vocals, as they touched the highest pitch, did justice to the tradition of Mugam that dates back thousands of years. Sakina is a well-known singer in her country and has performed Azerbaijan music in Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Japan, India, Austria, Germany, USA and many other parts of the world. Mugam, a traditional musical form that leaves much room for improvisation, has been recognised by UNESCO as a 'Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'.
From the Indian state of Gujarat came the Sidi Goma group. The Sidi community who live in various regions of India are of East African origin. The group presented music and dance that resonated with a touch of the wild jungles of Africa.
The second day of the three-day festival presented the Bengal Bihar Sufi Folk group and Otava Yo group of Russia. Bauls and Fakirs are a well-known community of wandering minstrels common to West Bengal and Bangladesh. The concert presented the Bauls and Fakirs from Nadia who performed their mystical songs and Bangla qawwali. Along with them, the Nirgun singers from Bihar joined in with songs, which also centred on universal love and brotherhood through the couplets of Kabir. It was a unique experiment at presenting Kabir and Lalon together.
The star attraction of the final day was Ghazal, the all-female Sufi music band from Iran. Though the country still carries reminders of the former autocratic Ayatollah Khomeini regime, the six-member group continues to pelt out Sufi songs.
Indira Naik from Mumbai, India was another refreshing voice in a genre dominated by men.
Last on the line up was the Mechket group from Tunisia.
In a world torn asunder by intolerance and strife, the Sufi singers were like a breath of fresh air with their messages of universal brotherhood, love and peace.