Vinspired Lake of Stars and Rich Mix present
Najma Akhtar
Most of the crew is off to Malawi to prep for the festival, but there is still action going on in London. Our amazing venue, the Rich Mix, continues to offer forefront world music concerts during autumn.
Last Friday Lake of Stars had the pleasure of attending to the performance of Najma Akhtar, a renowned English artist with South Asian heritage.
Having played at major music festivals like WOMAD, Reading and Glastonbury and performing for over 20 years, she is one of the big names in world music.
The crowds that gathered in to see her on Friday were a bunch of loyal followers who listened, enthralled, at the mesmerizing performance she gave.
Sitting back in comfy sofas and sipping drinks, Najma’s deep, tranquil voice transported us to faraway lands. Her trademark mix of jazz with traditional ‘ghazal’ (lyrical poems from Asia), had us bewitched. Najwa made sure the audience participated in a sing along and translated the words of the ghazal songs for the many folk who did not understand. Her goal is to cut across music genres and make everyone enjoy music, regardless of where it is from. Her songs spoke of tradition, spiritualism and nature. There was also room for upbeat Bollywood songs, tributes to Indian musicians and jazz solos, courtesy of her talented band of musicians. The audience sat there riveted, and cheered wildly on for an encore, which Najwa gave beautifully.
Apart from her role as an artist, Najwa Akhtar is also committed to humanitarian causes. One of her biggest life experiences was distributing relief aid in the aftermath of the Kashmir earthquake in 2005. She was moved by the compassion she saw when the whole of Pakistani society chipping in and giving up their time to distribute relief to the victims.
Lake of Stars was able to chat with the star about volunteering and the role of music in development.
LOS “You are committed to humanitarian causes and have given up your time to distribute aid as well as giving free concerts to fundraise money for various causes. What has volunteering done for you?”
NA: “It showed a different side of life...the unfortunate side of life. It makes you aware, when you are so close to death, you really value every single breath you take. I was in an earthquake of 7.8 in Kashmir and the building I was in was shaking like mad..those things prepared me for when I want to [the Kosovo] war and worked in the refugee camps. There are many ways of working for a charity. Even if I am performing for a charity cause, it’s giving part of me, it’s giving my soul. Now actually going there, physically being there, for me, that was so soul-searching, so moving...”
LOS: “Do you think music can contribute to developing a country?”
NA-“I think music can definitely contribute to the minds of people because it touches people’s hearts. When people come to me and tell me they’ve been touched by my songs, it is very moving and very rewarding...When people tell me they would like to learn about [traditional Asian folk songs] or that they would like for their daughters to learn how to play the harmonium [Najma taught herself] I think that is moving...and also music opens people’s mind...”
LOS “Your music is influenced by many different genres. Do you think music can help overcome cultural differences?”
NA-“It depends where you are in the world, because in some countries, there are many cultural and religious issues that stop you from doing that, but in many parts of the world, whether it can help overcome barriers, it will take time, but it in the end it does.”
written by vinspired volunteer Laura Zorrilla.
