Latif Bolat performs Sufi heritage

Londra Toplum Postasi - London,U.K.
Thursday, July 13, 2006

Renowned Turkish instrumentalist Latif Bolat performed at the October Gallery London on Friday the 7th of July, where he recited mystic Sufi poems to a mostly young audience. After giving a brief historical summary of each song, Latif asked the audience to participate by reading out selected mystic love poems, while he played the Saz. Some of the moving songs he recited included Hiroshima by Nazim Hikmet, 13th century poet Yunus Emre and 15th century poet Nessini.

Asked about what stimulated his interest in mystical Sufi music, Latif told Toplum Postası: “Well, I grew up in a secular Turkish secular environment, but I soon discovered that this type of music is the best heritage we have, better than Ephesus and Hagia Sophia- it reflects our Turkic heritage.” Asked about how much popularity he receives, Latif said: “Popularity is not relative, I’m not Tarkan, I receive interest from the cream of every country I visit, most notably the good and most knowledgeable people.”

Originally born in Mersin, Turkey, Latif Bolat is a skilled lute player who specialises in renditions of the mystical Sufi music for which Turkey is renowned and currently lives in New Mexico in the United States. A scholar of Turkish culture and history, Latif has been received with appreciation and enthusiasm throughout the world, as he provides a unique philosophy and approach to the performance of traditional music.