Afro Iraqi Sufi Musician Ahmed Moneka Talks Ceremony and Activism

HEALING WISDOM

Actor Ahmed Moneka was at a film festival in Canada when he got a call from his dad, saying his family was receiving death threats due to his new film The Society being released. He was a TV personality, the first black Iraqi TV presenter, and his new film drew attention to the violence being experienced by the LGBT community. Ahmed stayed in Canada and soon became at refugee while his family fled to Turkey. Stuck in Canada with no command of English, he fell back on his musical training, and connected with a Balkan musician to create a duo, The Mosquito Bar.
Ahmed began his musical journey fusing genres. His new album Kankafula features a blend of soul, funk, and rock blended with Afro-Iraqi Sufi music. Here he shares about the spiritual traditions of his family. In the 8th century his ancestors brought the East African influences to Basra, where the tradition of ecstatic dance music and lively ceremonies led by healing priests and priestesses who use music, herbs and ceremonies for healing.