The inaugural Glasgow Sufi Festival, a music and arts spectacular showcasing the art, culture and mysticism of Sufism will be held this summer
Music, poetry and theatre inspired by Muslim cultures are set to feature at a new summer festival.
The inaugural Glasgow Sufi Festival, a music and arts spectacular showcasing the art, culture and mysticism of Sufism will take place at the Tramway Theatre in Glasgow in July.
Sufism is an ancient mystical tradition with an emphasis on universal love and peace, with a rich heritage of creative arts that are internationally appreciated as among the most prepossessing and majestic in history.
The event will feature art exhibitions, storytelling, workshops, and ceremonial rituals of devotion, accompanied by a host of talks on the history, ideas, and relevance of Sufism in the world today.
The Sufi Festival is funded by Creative Scotland, Amal (a Saïd Foundation programme), the Safera Foundation and the University of Edinburgh Al Waleed Centre.
Graham Reid, equalities and diversity officer for Creative Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Glasgow’s first Sufi Festival. This new addition to the city’s cultural calendar will present high quality music, visual art, storytelling, theatre and talks exploring traditional and contemporary cultures of Sufi Islam.
“Audiences from all backgrounds can enjoy the vibrant and diverse programme which will take over Tramway and Hidden Gardens”.
We are working in close partnership with Amal in delivering the Festival, whose aims include increasing understanding of Britain’s Muslim communities among people of other faiths and none, and fostering a stronger sense of belonging in the UK among its Muslim communities.
Highlight acts of the festival will include: Shah e Mardan, Qawwali ensemble led by former apprentice to the late master, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; Islamic 90s hip hop and Nasheed group Mecca2Medina regrouping for a one-off performance; the multi-award-winning Khayaal Theatre, staging performances of Rumi’s Tales of Wisdom; and an exhibition of unique rarely seen artefacts and artworks from the Islamic world; and much more.
The festival will be a family-oriented, community event, welcoming all ages, abilities, faiths, ethnicities, gender identities, and mindsets to share in a unique experience of Islamic culture in the heart of Glasgow’s Southside and Scotland’s largest Muslim community.
Festival organiser, Tariq Mahmood, said: “This celebration of Sufism will present an eclectic array of Muslim artistic talent from around the UK and abroad whilst illuminating one of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions.
“Doors will open for invaluable exchange and dialogue between people of all backgrounds in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.”
The festival takes place on Sunday 28 July, between 10.30am and 9.30pm. Tickets are free via Eventbrite.
