Rumi, the mystic poet, was born in 1207 in Balkh, Afghanistan, which was then a part of the Persian Empire. Amir Khusrau was born in 1253 in Patiali, grew up on the banks of the river Ganges and composed poems of a mystic nature. 'Rumi in the land of Khusaru' is based on Tajjali, a Sufi concert w...
Recordings of traditional musicians from Morocco.
Shot initially in pre-war Syria, Wajd offers a window into the lives of three Syrian musicians turned refugees. Forced to rebuild their lives in exile, they turn to their love of music to find meaning in the aftermath of destruction and atrocity.
Inspired by the traditional sacred music of Syria...
This is a musical performance by Saakin, of the most famous "naat" of the great Sufi Saint, Pir Mehr Ali Shah (d. 1937) - Aj Sik Mitraan di. A "naat" is a devotional poem that is sung and expresses love for the Prophet Muhammad. "Naats" are perhaps the most widespread of the "musical" traditions ...
An upbeat look at the history of the Swahili people of Kenya and Tanzania's East African coast. The film takes viewers along the coast from the fabled island of Lamu to Zanzibar, Mombasa, Kilwa, Bagamoyo and Darussalam, tracing the development of the Swahili culture through the intermarriage of A...
A Western poets interpretation of a traditional dua (prayer). Baraka Blue is an acclaimed rapper and poet from Seattle and based in Oakland, California. He has performed all over North America as well as the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. His music combines contemporary spoken word poetry...
A group of Iranian master musicians try to locate, restore and record a repertoire of compositions attributed to Abd al-Qadir Maraghi, a prominent composer who lived six centuries ago and greatly influenced Middle Eastern classical music. During a six-year journey, the group is finally able to re...
Zain Ali and Zohaib Ali are brothers and the grandsons of USTAD HAJI REHMAT ALI KHAN who performed for 40 years with the legendary USTAD NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN on 2nd Harmonium. Zain Ali and Zohaib Ali have distinguished themselves by a tone and expansive vocal abilities reminiscent of their illus...
When the unfogettable qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan died in Pakistan in 1997, be left a musical vacuum into which stepped his two teenage nephews. Despite their tender age, they were determined that their group Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali should continue their uncle’s pioreering
efforts to tran...
A short performance by the legendary Pakistani Sufi Muslim singer, composer and musician during America-based Qawwali band Fann Fi Allah's tour through Pakistan in December 2014.
This is a trailer for a film documentary twenty years in the making, culminating in the ultimate Qawwali documentary series. Three hours of carefully curated, never before published material.
Follow the unique journey of the only Western-born Qawwali ensemble as they travel between India & Pakis...
In Iran, female singing voices are deemed to be too provocative, and women are prohibited from performing as solo artists by religious law. Demoted to backing singers, many women try to remain active despite the restrictions placed upon them, and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb's documentary sympathetically c...
This promotional video for the Multan Sultans cricket team of Pakistan, perfectly captures the essence of Multan and shows the colour and vibrance of diverse Pakistani culture. Featuring the legendary Pakistan singer and musician Attaullah Eisa Khelvi
Bangladesh’s folk music boasts a rich heritage and bonding with the roots of the culture that is still practically unheard of by the global audience. Dhaka International Folk Fest is here to provide the international platform where the entire planet can enjoy the culture’s true form embodied in i...
