Sufi music makes comeback in Iraq
Although Western influences have transformed the music scene in Iraq in recent decades, leading to a focus on fast beats and pop music, a number of Iraqis are trying to revive popular interest in traditional Sufi songs.
When reading or hearing about Sufi music, one immediately imagines a “spiritual session” during which mouwashshas (a form of classical Arabic poem) are sung, as Sufi music in Iraq is linked to the Kasnazani order — known for their performances involving “whirling dervishes” — in addition to the Qadiri order. During their evening performances and religious occasions, Sufis usually recite poems and beat drums to create rhythm. This is an old Sufi worship ritual that is still practiced today, especially on religious occasions.
The fame of Sufi music is not restricted to Iraq. It's a rather pristine form of art having religious links in all Middle Eastern countries. It extends to India, Pakistan and other countries, which organize annual festivals to sing Sufi poems. The content of some of these poems aims at introducing the audience to God.
Many Iraqi composers became famous for composing Sufi music for sung poems. They include the prominent Iraqi composer Mulla Uthman al-Musili, the musician Rouhi al-Khammash, Taleb al-Karghouli and many others, to name a few.
Some youth groups in Iraq have currently taken it upon themselves to put Sufi music at the forefront and revive it. They have started to organize their own bands and have been celebrating special evenings dedicated to playing Sufi music and singing famous Iraqi Sufi poems since 2011. Sufiyat, one such band, was led by composer and oud player Ali Hassan. During the celebration of a Sufi evening in Madarat Arts Gallery in Baghdad on April 27, 2011, Hassan said that by forming his own band, he was seeking inspiration from the Eastern Arab culture. This culture encompasses the enchanting musical legacy of playing the oud, along with an accompaniment of special drums to revive the Sufi spirit in a renewed, expressive style.
