The Nature Of Love

By Houda Trabelsi, *Al-Hadra show concludes Tunisia Medina Festival* - Magharebia - Tunis, Tunisia
Thursday, September 9, 2010

Tunis: The 28th annual Medina Festival, which is held on the occasion of Ramadan, came to a close September 7th in Tunis with the presentation of al-Hadra 2010.

Fadhel al-Jaziri, creator of al-Hadra 2010, surprised the attendees with a reinvigorated show that presented both popular and Sufi heritage in a modern way.

The show included 101 young people through a number of tableaus. The group included 54 singers, 16 musicians, and 31 dancers to recreate the scene of Sufi songs and present a celebration featuring both cheering and prayer.

The performances featured low voices, weak voices, softness and then force. There was diversity of nature and control of articulation. There were also modern musical instruments that carried the nature of the present era and a sign of modernity.

"I love to attend these Sufi shows, especially during the month of fasting, which is a month of worship and closeness to God," said concertgoer Manel bel Aid. "These shows are linked to all that is religious and spiritual through religious songs and dhikr (invocation)."

This was not the first time that al-Jaziri tried to impart an artistic character that is open to the spiritual nature of al-Hadra. In 1991, al-Jaziri partnered with musician Samir al-Aqrabi and a number of Salamiya, Qadiriya and Tijaniya sheikhs and leaders from famous religious singing groups to present a large show entitled "al-Hadra."

"I personally pay more attention to the artistic and theatrical aspects of the show than the spiritual and Sufi aspects," said Adnen Jabnoun. "I found the show to be acceptable. The author tried to bring together religious singing, dancing and some tableaus that express al-Hadra atmosphere as lived by Tunisians, while focusing more on the aesthetic aspect."

"Al-Hadra is like a theatrical show. It's a new, contemporary vision that is similar to what we see in Tunisia now. It establishes a new Sufi genre of music," Marouia Bennour said. "Tunisians like such spiritual atmospheres because they are part of their habits."

Houda Said Allah, another attendee, noted the mix of the spiritual and religious with modern interpretations. "This is through praise and invocations of God's spirit and God's prophet." She then added: "In fact, I've lived the atmosphere of al-Hadra as we knew it and were brought up to, but with some changes and an additional artistic touch."

"Al-Hadra is a meeting for invocation and praise in a circle organized in lines that are opened and closed by name. It includes religious songs that are performed with a light, then heavy, voice. It also features contractions and praises that describe the nature of love, passion, death, grave, Judgment Day, paradise and hell," al-Jaziri said.

“It also includes dancing and shaking until participants reach ecstasy. It’s the meaning of spiritual purity and gratitude. It summarizes man's journey wherever man goes. It shows the Tunisian character in its best manifestations," said al-Jaziri, describing the Sufi foundation on which his project is based.

"It's a different show in terms of vision and performance. It has nothing to do with the idea prevailing among the public about al-Hadra as a show that is based on religious and Sufi singing, as part of a frame involving a number of rituals, including the appearance and movement of singers. Although they were supposed to be sitting, we found them in a standing position,” Mohamed Kraeim said.

In spite of the radical change, the show was wonderful attendee Bilel ben Fadhel told Magharebia.

"This change made the show more universal and open to all cultures," he said. "It also involves a message for the rejection of extremism and closed-mindedness."

Picture: Performers at the Medina Festival celebrate their heritage with song and dance. Photo: Houda Trabelsi.