Sujag Sansar Organisation (SSO) with the support of NRSP-SGAFP launched a project title ‘Revitalising Mystic Music Groups of District Dadu through Provision of Training and Economic Opportunities’ in Johi Taluka. The objective of the project is to revive diminishing folk and sufi music in district Dadu and keep their identity alive by providing training and equipping them to upgrade and strengthen the mystic/folk music groups. It also aims at promoting trained mystic/Sufi music and its inactive and dispersed groups in local areas to maximise future opportunities.
The ceremony in the regard was held in Dadu on Friday. PPP leader Rais Qambar Ali Leghari presided over the program. Sufi singers also sang songs on the occasion.
Addressing the ceremony, SSO Sujag Sansar Organisation CEO Mashqooq Birhmani said that the project activities were implemented in 7 villages of Johi Taluka whereas the impact of the project will be seen in the entire Sindh province.
He said that keeping in view the importance of mystic music and promoting cultural heritage through Sufi songs, SSO conducted a baseline survey on Sufi/mystic music and musicians in Taluka Johi.
He said that according to the base-line survey findings a decade ago, 08 mystic and folk singer groups were active in Taluka Johi, adding that these groups had been inactive and dispersed due to lack of modern skills, instruments and lack of support and opportunities.
He said that SSO under this six months project period selected seven music groups including a total of 56 mystic musicians belonging to the mentioned villages’ for capacity building trainings. Modern musical instruments to the selected musician groups were provided with the support of NRSP SGAFP.
He said that this project has also restored the community’s unique cultural heritage through provision of music trainings to the musicians, providence of mystic musical instruments to the selected groups, organising cultural events at various shrines of Sufi saints and at public places.
He said that SSO has also linked the trained musicians with the culture, tourism department, Government of Sindh so it can benefit from their endowment fund. He said that SSO has also has built Linkages of selected mystic music groups with relevant local departments and institutes like Dadu Art Gallery, Allama II Kazi Library for creating the economic opportunities for the groups.
Published in Daily Times, April 22nd 2018.