Ensemble Ibn Arabi

The musical director of the Ibn Arabi Ensemble, Ahmed El Kheligh, studied Arabo-Andalusian music at Tangiers Conservatory before studying the qanum with with Ibrahim Salah from Tunis and Salim Husseyn Al Amir from Iraq. He was a follower of the las shaykh of the siddiqia zaouia and had the privilege of going on to further study in Paris and then Fez (theology at Qarawiyyin University). At the latter he devoted all his time to studying Sufism. This multidisciplinary education corresponded perfectly to the eclecticism of his ideas and he was soon presenting a series of radio programmes called Sufi Music and Singing around the world on "Medi 1," the international Mediterranean radio station, as well as contributing to various literary and university reviews and magazines and Arabic newspapers, always on the subject of Sufism. He gives lectures in Europe and the Arab world and also presents concerts of Sufi music, a role he has performed at the famous Fez Sacred Music Festival.

Three other musicians who attented the Siddiqia Zaouia from a very early age appear here: the singer Abdellah al Mansour El Kheligh, who also plays the bendir, trained at Tangiers Conservatory and is now a splendid performer. There is of course an obvious reason for this, since his earliest childhood he has been bathed in the Zaouia repertoire, where he came across such revered personalities of the older generation as Sidi Mohamed Ben Agiba Reyhani and Temsamani. No wonder then that he sings with such amazing technical and vocal prowess and natural grace, in spite of his youthful voice. Then there is the violonist Ousama El Kheligh, who studied the violin and Arabo-Andalusian music at Rabat and Tangiers conservatories and theology at Tetouan. Finally the nay player, Abdelouahid Senhaji, who studied Arabo-Andalusian music and the nay at Tangiers Conservatory. He has developed a style that owes much to Kudsi Erguner, whom he's met on several occasions. —Courtesy Calabash Music