Whirl to spiritual music driven by the Simsimiya

By Nevine El-Aref - Al-Ahram Weekly - Cairo,Egypt
Thursday, September 28, 2005

Throughout the holy month of Ramadan the historic sites of Al-Ghouri complex, Beit Al-Harrawi, Al-Seheimi and Taz Palace, as well as Talaat Harb Library in Al-Sayeda Nafisa district, Al-Manesterli Palace in Al-Rowda Island and the Alexandria Creativity Centre will host several cultural activities, concerts and dance performances to celebrate Ramadan nights. Sponsored by the Cultural Development Fund, all performance are free of charge except at Al-Manesterli Palace.

Head of CDF Ayman Abdel-Moneim said that in the second week there will be several performances by the Cairo Troupe for Sufi Inshad Dini (Sufi religious recitals), as well as by other folk troupes from various Arab countries.

Al-Tanbura troupe will be among the Taz Palace agenda. Hailing from Port Said in Egypt, Al-Tanbura performs mesmerising ancient Hadra and Dama Sufi songs on a variety of traditional instruments. Egyptian whirl dervishes to this highly rhythmic and spiritual music driven by the simsimiya, a Lyre harp dating back to the Pharaohs, significant in its use in both exorcisms and healing ceremonies.

In 1989, Zakaria Ibrahim founded the Tanbura musical troupe trying to revive the folkloric music of semsemia of Port- Said, using at the same time an instrument called "Tanbura" which was related to "Al-Zar" (Egyptian folkloric ceremony that used to be practised to kick out demons and ghosts).

The Talaat Harb Library in Al-Sayeda Nafisa will host puppet show and a collection of folk art performances for kids. An exhibition of Arabic calligraphy will be exhibited and accompanied with art workshops for plastic arts and Arabic calligraphy. The CDF will also organise an Iftar for parentless children.