In the exquisite theatre of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustat, an eager audience settles comfortably into their seats, their eyes fixed with anticipation on curtain. They are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the spectacle concealed behind its fabric.
With a momentary pause, the curtain gracefully begins to draw back, revealing the talented musicians of the Egyptian Mawlawiya ensemble. They sit handling their instruments with precision and grace.
A hushed silence falls over the theatre as Amer el-Touni, dressed in a pristine white galabiya, makes his entrance onto the stage.
Accompanied by five dervishes, devout practitioners of the Mawlawi order, they don expansive white skirts symbolising the shroud and tall camel-hair hats representing tombstones. Each dervish reverently bows to Touni, seeking his permission to embark on the hypnotic journey of whirling towards the heavenly realms.
Touni, a renowned vocalist and founder of the Mawlawiya Masriya ensemble, has dedicated himself since 1994 to preserving and promoting the rich traditions of Egyptian Mawlawiya.
Through his music and vocal performances, he aims to keep the essence of this captivating art alive.
As the dazzling troupe commences their whirling, each whirler, with their left foot firmly planted as a metaphorical representation of unwavering faith and adherence to Islamic law, embarks on their celestial dance. Their right leg gracefully swirls in a circular motion, symbolising the dynamic essence of life itself.
Throughout the mesmerising spin, their arms stretch wide open. The right hand reaches towards the sky, embracing the beneficence bestowed by Allah, while the left hand extends towards the ground, symbolically transferring this benevolence to the earth.
Touni, a graduate of the Faculty of Education with a degree in Arabic Language, pursued further studies and obtained a PhD in this field. Drawing upon his expertise, he founded the Egyptian Mawlawiya Ensemble to showcase the rich heritage of Egyptian Mawlawiya on a global platform, solidifying Egypt’s cultural and historical significance among nations.
The ensemble has performed in over fifty countries, transcending continents and cultures. From Tunisia to Japan, Lebanon to the United States, spectators have been enthralled by the soul-stirring performances of the Egyptian Mawlawiya Ensemble.
El-Touni eloquently emphasises the deep roots of Egyptian culture, tracing back to ancient Egypt itself. He highlights the ancient Egyptians’ pioneering concept of spinning, evident in the engravings adorning Pharaonic temples. This practice of spinning evolved into whirling and meditation, which the ancient Egyptians developed over 7,000 years ago. The remarkable wisdom and understanding of the ancient Egyptians shine not only through Mawlawiya but also in their knowledge of monotheism, Sufi meditation, and spirituality.
The Egyptian Mawlawiya troupe is an integral part of the cultural Sufi tradition and was named as such to distinguish itself from other Mawlawiya groups worldwide.
Mawlawiya, or Sufi chanting, originated from the Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi, who established the Path of Love and Devotion.
This spiritual practice, including the whirling dance, has endured for 800 years and is considered a Sufi path that elevates the soul to a state of purity and advocates for love and peace.
Mawlawiya involves spinning in contemplation, with the ultimate goal of achieving perfection and mastering self-control. The dance itself is said to be inspired by the movement of planets around the sun.
The Mawlawiya performances incorporate traditional musical instruments such as the ney (reed flute), kudum (drums), and tanbur (lute). Through their melodies and rhythms, these instruments strive to evoke a profound state of spiritual elevation and euphoria, heightening the spiritual experience for the audience.
An integral element of the Egyptian Mawlawi Tradition is poetry, which serves as a powerful medium for expressing spiritual devotion and offering praise to God. The majority of these poems are written in Arabic, aligning with the language of religious texts and reflecting Egypt and the Arab world’s broader cultural and literary heritage.
The poetry performed during Mawlawiya draws inspiration from a diverse range of sources, encompassing Islamic religious texts, mystical writings, and the works of renowned Sufi poets. Possessing spiritual profundity, metaphorical language, and rhythmic qualities, these poems resonate deeply within the participants, fostering a profound connection to the divine.
El-Touni skillfully performs chants from the works of luminaries such as Ibn Arabi, Ahmad Rifa’at, Ibn al-Farid, and many others have contributed to the rich reservoir of poetry associated with Mawlawiya. Through their evocative and poetic verses, they convey spiritual wisdom, metaphysical concepts, and intense emotions, thereby enhancing the spiritual encounter for those engaged in Mawlawiya events.
The museum’s event commemorates the commencement of Ramadan, set to begin on March 11. The audience experienced a mesmerising performance, finding themselves captivated as they soared through the sky alongside the spinning dervishes.
