After 23 global concerts and entertaining various audiences across the world, the artists came together for the finale of the Jubilee Concerts series. According to International Task Force Convener for Jubilee Concerts Ashraf Ramji, this performance aimed to “create an environment of celebration, instill greater appreciation of arts and music within youth and all members of the Jamat, and introduce the Jamat to various genres.”
In line with the concert’s Mystical theme, the music was influenced by Sufi traditions. International recording artists Salim and Sulaiman Merchant explained that “Sufi music is not just devotional. It’s liberating.” Nobovar Chanorov also noted the heightened significance of the Jubilee Concert series. For him, however, the impact of this concert was not just about the Jubilee year, it was in the broader pursuit of fostering an inclusive, diverse culture within the Ismaili community.
“I feel like I am the ambassador of this music to others, to people who are not as familiar with Tajik music, with Central Asia,” he said. Nobovar prepared for the performance with this in mind, as he explained: “Every word that comes out of my mind, every song that I’ve chosen is specifically for this. It's not just a random song but it's all been chosen for this event because I am representing my forefathers.”
The Sufi Voyage concerts took place in the afternoon and evening at the Altice Arena in Lisbon. Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan opened the show, wowing the audience with qawwalis. After finishing the set, the qawwali group received a standing ovation.
As a finale, all the guest artists joined Salim and Sulaiman on stage for a rendition of “Jubilee Mubarak,” an original track released by Salim-Sulaiman to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee opening ceremonies last July. With that as the close of the concert, and effectively the Jubilee year, inspirational music created the ideal denouement for the Jamat throughout the past 12 months.