Fez Festival of Sufi Culture - Day Three Review

The Round Table subject was El Andalouse a crucible of mystical encounters and the influence of d'Ibn Abbad. The audience was noticeably smaller for the first morning session. This is often the case when visitors return home after attending the weekend events.

The outstanding contribution came from Françoise Atlan who, much to the delight of the audience, was urged by Faouzi Skali to illustrate her remarks on the importance of Andalusian music, by singing. Thankfully, she agreed.

Unaccompanied and without a microphone, her bell-like voice, as light as a whisper, drifted around the Bouananiya Medersa like a gliding butterfly. It gave the audience a few moments of sheer beauty.

 Françoise Atlan

Evening Concert - Frédéric Ferney and Leli Anwar followed by the Tariqa Sqalliya

The first half of the evening was a marathon poetry reading by Frédéric Ferney and Leili Anwar. The piece was beautifully performed but according to some in the audience, a little too long.

The second half began with the Tariqa Sqalliya chanting off stage before Haj Bennani lead the  procession into the performance area. Like the Boutichichiya from the previous night, the Sqalliya are a purely vocal group, performing without instruments. They have fine voices amongst them and began their dhiker and samaa at a gentle pace, which soon warmed up.

The Sqalli chorfas of Fez are the descendants of the venerated Saint Moulay Ahmed Sqalli. The zawiya Moulay Ahmed Skalli was founded in the 17th century and today it is still a place where dhiker and samaa are regularly practiced. These sessions often give rise to ecstatic dances called spiritual drunkenness or Khamria.

A Sufi Selfie

Tomorrow at the Festival
10am - 12: Round Table - Thinking the spiritual
4.30 - 6.30 Round Table - Sufism Today
8.30 Concert at Jnan Sbil - Tariqa Sharqawiya
Tomorrow's Weather:
Possible showers and top temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. 13 at night.

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The View From Fez is an official Festival Media Partner

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