These days it would seem like Goa is the capital of cultural music festivals with the Monte Music festival in Old Goa having just gotten over and the Ketevan World Music Festival yet to come. In between, is the 4th edition of the Sur Jahan World Peace Music Festival at the Kala Academy from the 7th to the 9th of February.
Sur Jahan Music Festival
A music festival with a difference, this one is organized by Banglanatak.com. They’ve got some interesting performances lined up to perform at this edition of the Sur Jahan World Peace Music Festival (formerly known as Sufi Sutra). We shall see the WOMEX Lifetime Achievement Award-winning Senegalese artiste, Cheikh Lo, and the young Finnish all-girl band Tuuletar along with senior bands from Hungary and Poland and many others at the festival.
Banglanatak dot com’s aim is to create a platform for cultural dialogues and give Goan music lovers and concert goers a chance to experience music from all over the world. The Sur Jahan World Peace Music Festival finished its eighth edition in Kolkata yesterday and is now set to come to Goa.
The founder-director of Banglanatak dot com, Amitava Bhattacharya spoke a little about the festival. He said, “Sur Jahan, is a world peace music festival for celebrating cultural plurality. Earlier it was known as Sufi Sutra. Every year it is held in the first weekend of February in Kolkata and the following week in Goa. In its eighth edition in Kolkata and fourth edition in Goa in 2018, the festival has evolved thus creating a platform for cultural dialogue and exchange to broaden awareness and understanding of various cultures and develop an appreciation of the diversity to foster peace.”
An explosion of different musical stylings at the Sur Jahan World Peace Music Festival
According to Amitav, “This year the inauguration will witness traditional folk of Goa saluting world music. “As the festival is being organised in Goa we wish to bring the traditional folk culture of Goa to the limelight. We also wish to inspire youth to think global with their traditional culture and thus strengthening the basics of world music.”
The Sur Jahan World Peace Music Festival has a number of myriad performances to look forward to. There is a collaborative performance by the Bengal Goa Musical Ensemble where two musicians from Goa will collaborate with musicians from Bengal. This concert is on the 8th of February at 6 pm, followed by a workshop the next day at 12:30 pm.
Another unusual performance taking place will be that of acclaimed writer, Gabriella Ghermandi who is to perform a blend of Ethiopian and Italian fusion folk on the 9th of February from 6 pm.
On the 9th of February at 7 p.m. Nizami Khusro Brothers will perform Sufi devotional music which can be traced back to the 8th century Persia and is popular in the Indian subcontinent. This vibrant musical tradition was fused with South Asian musical traditions to create Qawwali as we know it today by Hazrat Amir Khusro Dehlvi in the late 13th century in India.
“Also, not to miss one of the most original folk bands in the Polish music world, Muzykanci will be taking the stage on the 8th of February at 7 pm,” says Amitava.
He concluded by saying, “Our aim is to only bring good music to the festival that allows a global exchange of ideas to take place.”
Who can we thank for this musical extravaganza?
The festival is conceptualised, designed, curated and presented by Banglanatak dot com, a 17-year–old Kolkata-based UN recognised social enterprise, specialising in Culture and Development.
The festival is open to all over all 3 days at Kala Academy between and including the 7th and 9th of February.
Information credit – Navhind Times
ItsGoa/FEB/KDGP
