On Friday 25th, Sunday 27 and Wednesday 30th September the Barbican presents a voyage into the mystic world of the Sufi tradions of Qwwali and Gnawa music alongside healing music from Sudan and Voodoo funk from Benin.
For more information on the event click here HERE

Friday William Dalrymple hosts Nine Lives: Sacred Music from Modern India a concert based on Dalrymple’s latest book, Nine Lives which follows nine people telling their story through their music and culture, and features Paban Das Baul & the Bauls Of Bengal, Shah Jo Raag Fakirs, Susheela Raman & Chandu Pannicker Theyyam Dance Group.

Sunday’s concert feature the afro/funk irresistible dance music of Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou supported by Gnawa Home Songs playing Tamesloht Blues.

Wednesday’s venue is LSO St Lukes featuring the Sudani Healing music of Rango with support by Ethiopian legend Alemu Aga.

Event Details:
25th & 27th Sept @ Barbican Centre. 730pm each concert.
Click for map. Nearest Tube: Barbican
Tel: 020 7638 8891/020 7638 4141
Nine Lives on 25 Sept Tickets: £12.50-20 For info and tickets click
Afro Funk and Gnawa 27 Sept Tickets: £10/15/20 For info and tickets click

30 Sept @ LSO St Luke’s 161 Old Street. 730pm.
Click for map. Nearest Tube: Old Street.
Tel: 020 7588 1116
Rango & Alemu Aga Tickets: £12.50-15 For more info and tickets click

For links and clips click READ THE REST…

Its just over a year since the renown poet Mahmoud Darwish, The Voice of Palestine, died; so, fittingly, the A.M. Qattan Foundation are holding Celebrate Darwish, a night of his readings by contemporary poets and authors Fawzi Karim, Margaret Obank, Ruth Padel and Hanan al-Shaykh.

The event is in association with the Arab British Centre and Saqi who, in early August, published “A River Dies of Thirst: A Diary” of Darwish’s thoughts and recollections during the 2006 conflict in Ramallah.
To buy A River Dies of Thirst click HERE

Vital Statistics:
Mosaic Rooms at the A. M. Qattan Foundation. 630pm for 7pm Wednesday 30th September.
Tickets FREE but space is limited so email info@mosaicrooms.org  or ring +44 207 370 9990
A. M. Qattan Foundation, 226 Cromwell Road, London SW5 0SWClick for map.
For more info click HERE
Nearest Tube: Earl’s Court

Links:
To listen to Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry click HERE
For Darwish’s poetry in Arabic and English click HERE
Click for the A.M. Qattan Foundation.
Click for Saqi Books.
For the Arab British Centre click HERE

Our long time favourite Graphic Novelist Joe Sacco, author/illustrator of the seminal work Palestine is coming to London’s ICA to talk about his latest work Footnotes in Gaza.

Footnotes in Gaza covers past and present in the town of Rafah a notorious flashpoint on the Egyptian border.  To pre-order Footnotes in Gaza click HERE and to order Palestine click HERE

Vital Statistics:
Performance 645pm Tuesday 29th September.
Institute of Contemporary Arts, 12 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AH Click for map.  Box office: +44 (0)20 7930 3647
Nearest Tube:Piccadilly, Charing Cross, Embankment.
Tickets£10 (£9 concs). To buy click

For more info click HERE

In addition to El Andaluz this saturday the London African Music Festival brings us the stunning voice of Aziza Brahim. El Andazluz appear at 830pm and Aziza at 730pm so you may be able to see both!
Vital Details:
730pm Saturday 12 September.
Tickets to Aziza Brahum £20 (+£1.45 booking fee) to buy click
Venue:
Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. For map click
Tel: 0871 663 2500 or email customer@southbankcentre.co.uk
LINKS:
London African Music Festival
Aziza Brahim on Myspace