EGYPT: Lutes and Sufi chanters

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As the rising sounds of oriental percussion and lutes resonated around him, the frail Sufi chanter struck a glass with prayer beads in fast repetitive movements. His vibrant voice sang love for the prophet Mohammed.

The man featured at a cultural center in Cairo was Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tuni, one of Egypt’s emblematic figures of Sufism, a school of Islam with mystical dimensions. Al-Tuni represents an old line of performers of musical and singing traditions transmitted orally from generation to generation.

Sufis believe they can transcend into a state of altered consciousness and experience closeness to Allah, or God. This is usually achieved through a set of rituals that involve whirling the head or the body to intense rhythmic music and repetitive chanting of divine names.

Sheikh Ahmad al-Rifai, a founder of a Sufi order in Iraq in the 12th century, described the relationship between God and a Sufi man:

‘Who loves Allah, allows himself to become modest, and does not like anything other than Him. Servitude to Allah is an attribute that who has it does not esteem anything other than Him. The perfection of servitude is freedom, which means salvation from submitting yourself to things other than Allah.’

Sufi musical traditions are still often performed in Egypt during religious ceremonies, called ‘Mulid,’ which celebrate the birthday of ancient notables or religious figures. These ceremonies marked all over Egypt involve mystical chants, dance and other performances.

—Raed Rafei in Cairo

Video: one of Sheikh Ahmad Al Tuni’s chants featured in the 2000 film ‘Vengo,’ shot in the Spanish region of Andalusia by French director of Gypsy ethnicity Tony Gatlif.