Sufi Poetry in Contemporary Music

On November 18, 2021, American Friends of Sufi Arts, Culture and Knowledge (AFSACK)™ hosted a Salon Conversation with vocalist, composer, and poet Walid Ben Selim, in conversation with ethnomusicologist and performer-composer Payam Yousefi.

Inspired by classical poetry of the Arab world, Walid Ben Selim’s music experiments across genres, sounding through traditional vocalizations, spoken word, hip hop, rock and cross-cultural collaboration. Following a discussion on the role of classical Sufi poetry in Ben Selim’s creative practice, the France-based artist joined us for a live Q&A.

A selection of Walid Ben Selim’s past performances can be viewed on his YouTube page. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram to learn about upcoming performances and tour dates. Listen to his music on Soundcloud.