- Title: JORDAN: Amman explores mystic world of Sufis during festival
- Date: 14th April 2009
- Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (APRIL 12, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LOCAL BAND AND INDIAN ARTIST PERFORMING AUDIENCE CLAPPING
- Embargoed: 29th April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jordan
- Country: Jordan
- Reuters ID: LVAF3GKJ1JGQW4O2IO1UYBHC88JR
- Story Text: Acclaimed Sufi artists from different continents enchant an audience during Amman's second edition of the Sufi music festival, the first of its kind in the Middle East.
The second edition of Amman's Sufi festival, which began on Wednesday (April 8), ended in style on Sunday with the vibrant, colourful and mystical music from the Rajasthan desert.
Ancient Indian poetry of Bulesha and Shah Latif were brought to life by rugged looking artists from the petrified desert whose powerful and melancholic tones transported the audience to the spiritual world of Sufi music.
Also performing at the festival was Egyptian Oud player and a specialist in Oriental chants Mustapha Said.
Organisers said the event is part of collective efforts by Sufi music lovers to preserve this unique art form, which thrives on praising God and feeds on love and wisdom.
The director of the festival, Ayman Tayseer, said that the festival was the only one of its kind in the Middle East, as interest in Sufi music in not widespread through the region or internationally.
"There are not many places around the world interested in Sufi music, particularly in the Arab world," he said.
"We hear about (Fes) festival for spiritual music. In the eastern Arab area, there is only this festival. We are now on the map and we have established contact with several bands to participate in the festival in the coming years. Thank God the festival is known on the level of untraditional festivals that offer untraditional music," he added.
Artists from different continents and religions were brought together under one roof to sing in the unified language of music, talking about heroism, separation, patriotism, respect for nature, birth, marriage and death.
Muslim, Christian and Hindu artists from the around the world took the audience on a special journey into the emotive world of Sufism.
Arab Sufi artists performed centuries-old poems that attempt to reach out to the supreme power of God through music and chanting.
Raja, a member of the audience, said the festival provides a unique opportunity for Jordanians to explore a type of art that has been overshadowed by commercial music.
"This is a high class art. It is uplifting psychologically, taste wise and morally. Even our political ideology is linked to this type of art," he added.
Organisers made a promise that more groups will join during the third edition of the festival, organised by the Ministry of Culture in co-operation with the Amman municipality.
Although Sufism is not always highly regarded by some traditional Muslim scholars, this practice has found strong footing among dedicated spiritual leaders throughout the long history of Islam, with practitioners even branded by certain groups as blasphemous.
However for many, Sufism is seen as another level of religious ritual which seeks to connect with God through chanting, prayer and Koranic recitation as well as through meditation, poetry, praise, music and often dance.
Sufi communities are now growing increasingly throughout the Muslim world and some states are openly encouraging the practise to counter the issue of militancy. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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