City of Poets

Mystic Music and Song of Central Asia – From Khorezm to Kashgar

Cambridge, 9 October 2026, 6:30 pm

CCAF (Cambridge Central Asia Forum)

Frankopan Hall, Jesus College, Cambridge

Abror Zufarov and Saniyam Ismail

and the prominent musicians:

Guzal Muminova, Arslan Gait, Sherzod Nazarov

This concert reunites musicians across the Soviet-Chinese divide through an original exploration of the stunning maqām-based classical repertoire of the Central Asian Uzbek and Uyghur peoples.

A group of leading musicians from different sides of the border, led by Uzbek tanbur, sato, and dutar player and vocalist Abror Zufarov and Uyghur dutar player and vocalist Saniyem Ismail, draw on the musical and poetic connections that have been deeply submerged by the forces of 20th-century nationalism to create an extraordinary and inspiring original concert repertoire. The programme is centred around the 17th-century mystic poet and wandering dervish Baba Rahim Mashrab, who wandered the cities of Central Asia from Namangan to Kashgar, Bukhara to Khotan and whose poetry still inspires musicians on both sides of the divide.

The concert will also feature prominent musicians: Guzal Muminova, Arslan Gait, and Sherzod Nazarov.

Professor Rachel Harris (SOAS University of London, leader of the Maqām Beyond Nation project) will introduce the musicians and the research underpinning their performance.

A Central Asian Collaboration

Produced by Nava Arts and supported by the London-based research project, Maqām Beyond Nation

Early Donations

£7 Students, £15 Standard

Please note that seating is on a first-come, first-served basis