Tunisia Celebrates Sufi Music at Nafahat Sufiya 2026

Tunisia will celebrate its spiritual and musical heritage at Nafahat Sufiya 2026. The cultural event will take place on October 30 and 31 in Bardo. It will bring together researchers, academics and musicians to explore the country’s Sufi traditions.

Organised under the supervision of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the event is part of Tunisia’s October of Music 2026 programme. It aims to promote Sufi music and preserve an important part of the country’s cultural identity.

The programme will begin on October 30 with a conference on music and Sufi orders in Tunisia. During the event, researchers will explore the history and artistic development of these traditions. They will also examine their influence on Tunisian society.

Several academics will contribute to the discussions. Professor Fathi Zaghanda will examine the artistic characteristics of chanting within Tunisian Sufi orders. Meanwhile, Professor Salwa Ben Hafidh will discuss the role of Malouf custodians and religious chanting masters in preserving traditional music.

In addition, Professor Nesrine Al-Ahwal will explore music and symbolic healing in Tunisian Sufi practice. Her presentation will focus on Al-Banqa within the Ajamiya order in Nefta. Professor Mohamed Anis Hammadi will also examine historical representations of the Aissaouia Sufi order in colonial ethnographic studies.

On October 31, the programme will continue with a live musical performance. Hadhrat Rijal Tunis, led by Sheikh Taoufik Doghman, will present traditional Sufi devotional music. The performance will highlight the chanting and rhythms associated with Tunisia’s hadhrat traditions.

Through music and collective chanting, the group will showcase a distinctive aspect of Tunisia’s spiritual heritage. These traditions have been passed down through generations. As a result, they remain closely connected to local customs, religious practices and collective memory.

Moreover, Sufi music holds an important place in Tunisia’s cultural landscape. It brings together spirituality, artistic expression and oral tradition. Across different regions, these practices also reflect the diversity of Tunisia’s historical and religious heritage.

By combining academic research with live performances, Nafahat Sufiya seeks to deepen public understanding of these traditions. The event also offers an opportunity to document traditional practices and introduce them to new audiences.

Ultimately, Nafahat Sufiya 2026 will celebrate the enduring relationship between music, spirituality and Tunisian identity. Through its two-day programme, the event will place the country’s Sufi heritage at the heart of its cultural calendar.

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