Arts, Culture Music - Other
An insight into the historical world of the Fatimids in Cairo and its significance in modern-day Islam, followed by
series of short films giving us glimpses into some of the work the AKDN has carried out in Cairo over the years.
Nasim Siabishahrivar is an Iranian singer who specializes in the vocal repertoire of Persian classical music.
Nai Barghouti is a Palestinian singer, composer, and flute player. At the age of 14, she launched her professional singing career and completed her studies in classical flute performance at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine.
Mohamad Osman is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and music teacher from Syria. Born in Jarabulus in 1975, he began his musical studies playing the buzuq (lute) during his early childhood.
A performance by the Aga Khan Music Initiative Ensemble, which is made up of musical innovators who are the AKMI’s most trusted artists, performers, educators, and advisors. Assembled from Afghanistan, China, Italy, and Syria, in this performance they celebrate the music that is inspired by their heritage.
A 2009 film on the projects and activities of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture depicting ancient villages and historic cities restored, abandoned monuments given new life, old skills relearned, and new discoveries made.
Omnibus Ensemble was established in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2004 by a group of adventurous young musicians who, as they explained, “shared the aim of performing music never before heard in Central Asia."
Mustafa Said is an Egyptian oud player, singer, composer, musicologist, and music teacher. Born and raised in Cairo, Said was introduced to music as a child and learned to read and write music in Braille at an early age.
Huda Asfour is a Palestinian oud and qanun player, composer, educator, social entrepreneur, and engineer.
Ejaz Sher Ali Khan is a Pakistani singer and harmonium player who takes an innovative approach to qawwali while honoring the roots of its tradition.
Celebrate Eid al-Adha with an enchanting musical performance held at the Ismaili Centre Toronto in 2015.
Dr. Karim Gillani and the Sufi Music Ensemble perform original compositions based on classical poems of the Mughal era with a theme of Rah-e-Ishq – The Path of Love.
Using rich metaphors, symbols, and stories of the past, musical compositions, and interpretations of modern art, the ensemble echoed the sentiments of tolerance and acceptance of the Mughal civilisation. The musicians used a variety of traditional instruments such as the santur, tombak, sarangi, flutes, Indian tablas, harmonium, and keyboard.
Rihla, which means ‘journey’ in Arabic, is a Diamond Jubilee production that toured through six Canadian cities in 2018. Featuring over 30 artists from across Canada, Rihla takes the audience on a journey from Mawlana Sultan Mohamed Shah’s Diamond Jubilee, through to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Takht Nashini, the 1978 Canadian Mulaqat, the Silver Jubilee, the Golden Jubilee, and the Diamond Jubilee.
Through dance, voice, music, and multimedia, Rihla tells the story behind our Jamat’s “Canadian Mosaic.” It showcases the rich diversity, and pluralistic vantage of cultures, languages, and unique stories of migration, struggle, growth, flourish, and community within our regions.
Each Act spotlights a story told through a combination of narration and drama, inspiring musical pieces, dance performances, all with integrated multimedia. The performance will be weaved together by an overarching narrative embodying the spirit of brotherhood, generosity, and unity within the Canadian Jamat.
Join us for the full showing of Rihla, for the first time on screen!
Designing a Better World is a new Ismaili Centre docu-series, focusing on designers who are improving society through their creativity and passion. In the first episode, world-renowned Islamic geometry artist, sculptor, and calligrapher Adam Williamson shares his journey and explains how the act of producing art is, for him, a deeply meditative and spiritual process.
From architecture to policy-making, entertainment to organizational design, Designing a Better World brings together leading thinkers who are building a more inclusive, resilient, and peaceful world through better design.
Rihla, which means ‘journey’ in Arabic, is a Diamond Jubilee production that toured through 6 Canadian cities in 2018. Featuring over 30 artists from across Canada, Rihla takes the audience on a journey from Mawlana Sultan Mohamed Shah’s Diamond Jubilee, through to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Takht Nashini, the 1978 Canadian Mulaqat, the Silver Jubilee, the Golden Jubilee, and the most recent Diamond Jubilee.
Through dance, voice, music, and multimedia, Rihla tells the story behind our Jamat’s “Canadian Mosaic”. It showcases the rich diversity, and pluralistic vantage of cultures, languages, and unique stories of migration, struggle, growth, flourish, and community within our regions.
Each Act spotlights a story told through a combination of narration and drama, inspiring musical pieces, dance performances, all with integrated multimedia. The performance will be weaved together by an overarching narrative embodying the spirit of brotherhood, generosity, and unity within the Canadian Jamat.
Join us for the full showing of Rihla, for the first time on screen!
In this week's instalment of Canada's Friday Night Reflections President Kassim-Lakha explores the challenges and successes of the Jamat's migration to Canada and the achievements of the Jamat in overcoming barriers to building a better life and becoming essential to the fabric of this country. The program will also include an abridged version of the Diamond Jubilee production, Rihla: A Journey from Roots to Dreams, telling the story of the diversity of cultures within our community.
Salim Merchant, Farah Mitha and Raj Pandit perform the Jubilee Games theme song live, at the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Jubilee Games in Dubai.
During the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Jubilee Games, the Mazij AlMusiqaa Ensemble entrances the audience with a musical mash-up of contemporary qawwali to alternative rock grooves.
The Global Concert is a featured signature event, which embraces our diversity and celebrates our unity through music and culture to create excitement about the 2016 Jubilee Games.
Introduced by Fairouz Nishanova, Director, Aga Khan Music Programme, a special highlight compilation film has been put together for the Jamat's listening pleasure. This video is from AT HOME, a new digital magazine presenting the programmes and projects of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).
You can see more from AKTC At Home on The.Ismaili »
AKYSB UK presents Singalong Saturday: This week we present a piece call ‘Yaqeen’ meaning belief. This composition by the Ismaili Community Ensemble celebrates the legacy of our beloved Imam and the love we have for him. The music fuses classical Western styles with Jazz, Arabic and Indian influences and is played by 20 musicians all of whom contributed to the music making process. The gentle strum of the rubab, beautiful call of the bansuri and the intricate rhythms of the tabla blend seamlessly with the jazzy sounds of the trumpet, saxophone and electric guitar.
The lyrics are sung in both English and Urdu and were devised by the vocalists themselves:
"From a moment to a memory,
Out of darkness, creating energy,
Every action builds your legacy,
One heartbeat to a symphony".
This piece celebrates the diversity of our Jamat and the beliefs and values that bind us.
AKYSB UK presents Singalong Saturday: Shukran is a beautiful piece collaboratively composed by members of ‘Ruhi’, a multi-cultural musical ensemble, celebrates diversity through music. It seamlessly brings together melodic, soulful raags from the East, spiritually uplifting styles from the Middle East, and upbeat rhythms of the West, also highlighting a rap! Diversity is also reflected in the lyrics covering four languages, Arabic, Hindi, English, Persian, taking inspiration from esteemed poets like Rumi. Embedded throughout the song are the heart felt sentiments of a murid for their Lord, with the words ‘Shukran! Ya Noor Azalee!’ Our gratitude, O Eternal Light!