Singer Sami Yusuf retunes traditional music for modern fans

Gulf Today Report

Award-winning composer and singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf’s bespoke concert “Journey of Solidarity,” was released across ADMAF’s digital channels. Drawing deeply from his own musical and spiritual heritage, Yusuf re-imagined traditional music for a contemporary audience, in the spiritually inspired songs that have made him famous.

Huda Ibrahim Alkhamis, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, said: "We are pleased to collaborate with leading international artists and pioneers of the chant genre to highlight the importance of their art and the values of faith, shared humanity and goodwill in these blessed days. Performances like these are beautiful expressions of the tolerance and openness that dialogue between cultures can bring."

She continued: "This online Ramadan series is a new platform for the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation to emphasise the importance of culture and the arts in the development of human civilisation as it continues today. As part of the efforts of the UAE’s wise leadership both locally and globally, art and culture are vital to our recovery from the pandemic.”

Regarding the craft of music, Yusuf has said, “I see in it an immense power, a power to pierce veils of memory and forgetfulness, a power to bring both listener and performer into the vibrant, creative space of the present moment.”

This wonderful performance will remain available on ADMAF’s social media channels, as will all the other unique performances in this series of innovative online broadcasts, featuring world-famous singers and artists from the Arab and Islamic world. In addition to Sami Yusuf, the artists included Lebanese composer and soprano Hiba Al Kawas, legendary Egyptian Islamic Sufi chanter Sheikh Mahmoud Tohamy and a unique collaboration between contemporary art greats El Seed and Dia’a Allam.

Part of ADMAF’s new “Culture is Humanity in Solidarity” digital campaign, this dynamic series of performances for Ramadan was organised to honour the art and music, the experiences, and the creativity that we share as human beings.

ADMAF is an independent, not-for-profit organisation seeking to nurture the arts, education, culture and creativity for the benefit of society and advancement of Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision.

Founded in 1996, ADMAF is one of the oldest, not-for-profit cultural organisations in the Arabian Gulf. Pioneering new artistic practices, it seeks to deepen global cross-cultural dialogue and inspire a renewed interest in the creativity of the UAE and Arab world.