As a mystical form of Islam, Sufism turns its gaze inward, focusing on the purification of the soul and unconditional love of God. Ritual makes it possible to approach this goal: the Sufi singer sets the tone, strikes up prayers and praises, and the participants repeat the name of Allah according to the rhythm. The movements grow faster and faster, the tempo of the accompanying drums accelerates. The dancers experience pain, joy, self-annihilation, bliss to the point of trance, ecstatic union with Allah.

At his acclaimed performances in "Théâtre de la Ville" in Paris, Ahmad Al-Tuni emphasized songs about Jesus, who is also venerated by Moslems. Thus, in harmony with Sufi tradition, Al-Tuni points to the common origins of the three great monotheistic religions and their holy works – the Tora, the Gospels and the Koran.

Ahmad Touny Soliman: vocals
Rashidi Khamis Rashidi AbdelBary: Duff (drum)
Mahmoud Ahmed Touny: Darbuka (drum)
Moustafa AbdelHadi Abdelrehman: Ney | Suffara (flutes)
Mahmoud Abbas Osman Abdelhalim: Duff
Mohamed Ahmed Hassan: Oud

Ahl Touat
Islamic mystics value the intuitive understanding of God rather than the knowledge of scholars. Originally, each was supposed to find the spiritual path to this goal, called Tariqa, on his own. Soon, however, several sheikhs attracted groups of disciples, and in the 12th century brotherhoods were founded in many parts of North Africa. Tariqa became the term for the ritual systems of one of these brotherhoods.

The Ensemble Ahl Touat originated within one of these brotherhoods, centered in Ouazzane in Northern Morocco, a city which remains one of the country's most important places of pilgrimage. In the 13th century a Zawiya, a holy community, was founded there to praise the prophets and recite the Koran. The Zawiyas always had a twofold function, however: along with their mystical significance they gave travelers the opportunity to conduct their business. This openness is typical of the region's Sufi orders.

Ahl Touat embellishes the repetitive sound pattern of the rhythm instruments with the sound of the Nafir, a wind instrument about two meters long. At this year's "Festival de Fès des Musiques Sacrées du Monde", the group was the highlight of the "Sufi Nights", especially with their stick dance, in which sticks replace the guns that are vital to life in the Sahara.

Driss Abu-Essabre: vocals | Tabla | Tbel (drums)
Mouhcine Bricha: vocals | Bendir (frame drum) | stick dance
Youssef Semlali: stick dance | Bendir
Mohammed Saad: Nafir (shawm)
Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi: Tasa | vocals
Mahdi Hajji: Bendir
Abdel Fetah Moujahed: Bendir
Mohamed El Yaakoubi: stick dance
Said Ibn-Hayane: stick dance
Abdellatif Moujtahid: Bendir | Harrazi