Glasgow Led the Way with
Peace in the City World Sufi Festival
Friday 4 - Sunday 6 August 2006

The Association of Poetry and Music Glasgow's World Sufi Festival, managed by Melange Network, proved to be one of the top intercultural events in Scotland in 2006. A family event, the festival showcased performers, artists, crafts, fashion, poetry, theatre and film from the local area and abroad. This encompassed both the traditional and modern around the Sufi theme.

Highlights from overseas included the renowned Pakistani ghazal singers Salamat Ali and Azra Riaz and qawaals Sher Maindad Khan. Rashid Mukhtar was one of 8 crafts workers from Multan, creating a section of the famous Multan Crafts Bazaar in the Tramway. One highlight that didn't want to stop was the Mushaira, a poetry reading from poets from acorss the Atlantic and south Asia. The Fashion Show included designs inspired by Rumi’s ancient verses. Top Pakistan theatre company, Ajoka appeared with their internationally acclaimed musical play about Sufi saint, Baba Bulleh Shah - a play with great contemporary relevance.  Joler Gaan, a group of musicians from Bangladesh, led workshops in the week before the festival and performed as strolling troubadours throughout the weekend. Joler Gaan also appeared in a music fusion event around Sufi themes and instruments. This was directed by Melange Network's Kimho Ip and involved Chinese young people and other local community musicians who'd developed the concert in workshops leading up to the event.

The World Sufi Festival used every corner of the Tramway, and some of the space outside as well. The 'Hidden Garden' was a particular find for the audience who enjoyed the sunny times of relaxation. Particularly popular features were the arts workshops over the weeknd led by Melange Network's Joanna Boyce, giving children the challenge of painting their own interpretation of their favourite aspect of the festival.

The Festival was rooted in the Sufi tradition, a mystical way of life that spread from the Middle East across North Africa, through central Asia and down through South and Southeast Asia. The transcendental music and dance of the Sufi is popular across the world, connecting with, and influencing, many modern music, dance and other artistic developments. These will be showcased along with the ancient traditional poetry, some of the best poetry ever written – and the talk – a dialogue with experts on Sufism and its relevance to modern lives.

Click here for press release.

The World Sufi Festival was supported among others by the Glasgow City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Pakistan Ministry of Culture.