Celebrating Our HeART-filled Heritage: Sounds of Greater Khorasan
Afghan and Tajik Poetry and Music
Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025 1:30 PM Calligraphy Demonstration,
2 PM Concert
FREE
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Join us for an uplifting afternoon of traditional music and poetry with master musicians from Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Featuring Homayoun Sakhi and Maruf Noyoft.
The concert will be preceded by a calligraphy demonstration by a master traditional Islamic calligrapher, Hakim Karimzada.
Meet the Musicians
Homayoun Sakhi is an Afghan rubab maestro born in Kabul to a renowned musical lineage. From age ten, he immersed himself in mastering the national instrument, the double-chambered rubab, under his father’s tutelage in the traditional ustâd-shâgird apprenticeship.
In 1992, he and his family sought refuge in Peshawar, Pakistan, following the chaos of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. There, Homayoun’s exceptional talents gained recognition, making him a popular entertainer known for his diverse repertoire.
In 2001, he relocated to Fremont, California, home to the largest Afghan community in the US. There, he introduced his refined rubab style, quickly becoming a local musical leader and earning national and international acclaim as a performer, teacher, and composer.
Maruf Noyoft, a native of Badakhshan, Tajikistan, embarked on his journey into the world of traditional Central Asian music at the University of Art and Culture of Tajikistan. There, he honed his craft on the Badakhshani Setor while also mastering instruments such as the Rubab and Daf under the guidance of local virtuosos. Driven by a deep appreciation for poetry and a desire to uncover the layered meanings within mystical Persian verse, Maruf expanded his artistic repertoire by learning to sing these profound compositions, completing a harmonious fusion of music and poetry.
After immigrating to the United States, Maruf remained deeply committed to his art. For many years, he was the sole performer and vocalist representing Badakhshan’s mystical musical heritage, keeping its rich traditions alive and resonant in a new cultural landscape.
Calligraphy Workshop
Abdul Hakim Karimzada, born in Afghanistan, is a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and master calligrapher with over 30 years of experience in different types of calligraphy and fine writing, such as traditional and modern scripts. He started calligraphy in the Herat Province of Afghanistan by learning different writing styles, including Nastaliq, Kofie, Naskh, and Thuluth scripts. He went on to create thousands of works by using these scripts. He also invented a new fine writing called Nilofar over the course of his calligraphy life.
Karimzada is a senior board member and trainer at the Herat Calligraphy Association. He has taken an active part in various calligraphy exhibitions inside and outside of Afghanistan and many solo exhibitions of his work. He has won numerous awards for his art and the collections of his calligraphy works.
Learn more about Karimzada’s work at hakimkarimzada.com.
