Mäshräp Ensemble . Music of the Uighurs

The Mäshräp Ensemble presents traditional Uighur classical music and folk music, with songs about love, friendship, and nostalgia.

The Uighurs are a Turkic people from Central Asia, mainly residing in East Turkestan (the current Chinese province of Xinjiang), as well as in the adjacent republics of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

The Abbas family, which has been living in the Netherlands since 1989, forms the core of the "Mashrap Ensemble". The group's name refers to Mäshräp, a traditional gathering involving music, stories, dance, and poetry.

The classical Uighur art music 'On Ikki Muqam' (the Twelve Muqams) is an ancient form of music based on folk music from Khotan, Kashgar, Turpan, and Dolan. The muqam has Turkish, Arabic, and Persian roots and follows a fixed pattern in its performance.

Music, singing, dance, literature, and architecture have played a significant role in the history of this people. Between the 10th and 13th centuries, Islam became the predominant religion of the Uighurs, which significantly influenced their culture.

Maynur Hewir: ghidjäk, vocals & dance
Gulendem Abas: dap, vocals & dance
Kamil Abas: rawap, tambour, ghidjäk & vocals
Jawdet Yadikar: ney & dutar
Tayir Kemer: bass rawap

At 4 pm, we organize a panel discussion at Herberg Macharius to highlight the oppression of the Uighurs > more info.

Organized by: Amnesty Flanders, Belgium Uyghur Association, Buren van de Abdij, De Centrale, Herberg Macharius & MO* Magazine