Rhythms of the Divine, Whirling Dervishes and Sufi Music

 
Yunus Emre Enstitüsü - London, in collaboration with Konya Metropolitan Municipality, hosted Rhythms of the Divine: Whirling Dervishes and Sufi Music on the evening of 8 July 2025 at the Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music. The event brought together a full house of guests from across London’s cultural, diplomatic and academic circles for an unforgettable evening rooted in the centuries-old traditions of Turkish Sufi practice. The programme opened with welcoming remarks by Dr Mehmet Karakuş, Director of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü - London, followed by a keynote speech from Esin Çelebi Bayru, the 22nd-generation descendant of Mevlânâ Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī.In her address, Ms. Çelebi Bayru warmly reminded the audience: “We believe that wherever Mevlânâ is remembered, his guests are present. Tonight, all of us gathered here are his guests.” She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the organisers, particularly the Konya Metropolitan Municipality and Yunus Emre Enstitüsü - London, and closed with a powerful reading from Rūmī’s Divân-ı Kebîr — a poetic meditation on unity, ego, and the shared essence of humanity. The event drew not only music and culture enthusiasts, but also prominent figure The event brought together not only art and culture enthusiasts, but also distinguished figures from diplomatic, academic, and political spheres. Attendees included Nesil Çalışkan MP, foreign diplomats, and widely recognised public figures. Among them was Stanley Johnson, former Member of the European Parliament and father of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This high-level attendance reflected the enduring and universal resonance of the Mevlevi tradition.

The evening's musical programme commenced with a traditional meşk performance — a method of oral transmission in Ottoman-Turkish classical music — featuring sacred hymns (ilahis) in Hüseynî, Uşşâk, and Beyâtî makams. This was followed by a rare full-length rendition of Acembûselik Mevlevî Âyin-i Şerîfi, composed by Abdülbâkî Nâsır Dede (1765–1821). These pieces, traditionally performed during the month of Muharrem, offered the audience a deeply spiritual and musically rich experience.

The second half of the evening was devoted to the Sema Ceremony, performed by the internationally renowned Konya Metropolitan Municipality Turkish Sufi Music and Sema Ensemble. As the semazens began their graceful turning, accompanied by ney, kudüm, and sacred recitations, the theatre was transformed into a space of stillness, contemplation, and inner movement. Far from a performance in the conventional sense, the Sema unfolded as a living ritual — one that continues to speak across time and culture.

This special event marked not only a milestone in the Institute’s 2025 cultural programme but also formed part of a wider UK tour by the Ensemble. In addition to this London performance, the group also appeared at the Bradford Literature Festival and the West London Turkish Festival, where they introduced audiences to the meditative beauty and spiritual philosophy of Mevlevi Sufism.
For those who attended, Rhythms of the Divine was more than a concert — it was a deeply felt invitation to pause, listen, and reconnect with the timeless message of Mevlânâ: that beyond all distinctions, we are one.