TALK  ? ANNEXE LECTURE ROOM II AT 18:30

 

 

Permeable Borders of Spirit: Hindu/Islamic Syncretism in Assamese Zikir  
By Utpola Borah 

 

Assamese zikir crosses cultural and religious boundaries, blends mysticism and moralizing, and has remained one of Assam’s most popular musical genres since its development in the 17th century. Zikir refers to the musical genre and to the occasion of its performance in Sufi assemblies. The presentation will address how zikir, aided in the reorganisation of Assamese Muslim society into a harmonious relationship with Hinduism through a complex musical and cultural synthesis that drew on folk music, the didactic tradition of philosophical songs (Deh-bicaror), and the re-imagination of culture through performance 

 

Utpola Borah is an ethnomusicologist, music educator, cultural archivist and exponent of North Indian classical music. Currently, she is working for the Columbus Metropolitan Library, USA, and Arts learning/Artist in Residence, Ohio Arts Council, USA