ABOUT
Afro Anatolian Tales is a boundary-crossing music project founded by Dutch-Turkish percussionist Sjahin During. The first album, Afro Anatolian Tales, was released in 2008 by the renowned Turkish label Double Moon. It garnered international recognition and was included in the Top 5 of music journalist Charlie Gillett’s (BBC) compilation. The album also received a 5-star review in Songlines Magazine, which described it as “a fascinating and contemplative musical journey.”
Since then, the project has evolved through collaborations with a wide range of artists, each contributing to its distinctive and evolving sound. Drawing inspiration from the musical traditions of Anatolia, Iran, India, and other Silk Road cultures, Afro Anatolian Tales fuses ancient rhythmic and melodic elements with contemporary electronics and improvisation.
Based in Amsterdam and led by its core trio, the ensemble crafts “a musical bridge of sounds between the Orient and Occident,” exploring shifting formations and immersive soundscapes. Their music transcends genre boundaries, weaving Eastern and Western influences into a vibrant, cinematic experience.
In performance, traditional instruments such as percussion, kemenche, duduk, ney, and tanbur merge seamlessly with live electronics, digital sound design, and rich sonic textures, offering audiences a contemporary interpretation of timeless traditions.
Afro Anatolian Tales works closely with festivals and venues through residencies and artistic collaborations, creating performances that grow organically from the moment, the place, and the people involved. This results in performances that are never repeated, each one a unique dialogue between tradition, innovation, and the present moment.
Tarab Dance marks the third production by Afro Anatolian Tales and will be accompanied by an international album release tour set to launch in 2026.
Tivoli Vredenburg 2025
Sjahin During’s global travels have exposed him to a diverse array of musical traditions. Raised in Istanbul until age six, he then moved to Texel, an island in the North Sea. In Havana, Cuba, he explored the rhythms of Afro-Cuban Yoruba music. He furthered his studies with the San Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert, worked on the Namibian Tales project, and traveled to Turkey, Iran, and India to study local musical traditions. These journeys led him to the rhythmic and modal traditions he had long sought. He discovered music that transcends personal expression, reaching into realms beyond everyday perception, a spiritual quality shared by the Afro-Cuban Yoruba, the San Bushmen, and Sufi traditions.
Afro Anatolian Tales showcases Sjahin’s talent for bringing together artists from diverse traditions for meaningful collaborations. The project reflects his interest in rhythmic diversity and his ability to merge these influences into a modern framework. The performances present a blend of electro-acoustic music, abstract rhythms, and atmospheric soundscapes, creating an experience that bridges ancient and contemporary musical worlds.
The first album, “Afro Anatolian Tales,” released in 2008 by the Turkish label Double Moon, featured contributions from musicians such as Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Aynur, Mola Sylla, and Theodosii Spassov. The album garnered international recognition and was included in the Top 5 of music journalist Charlie Gillett’s (BBC) compilation. It also received a 5-star review in Songlines magazine, which described it as “a fascinating and contemplative musical journey.”
In the Netherlands, Afro Anatolian Tales made a notable impact with their participation in the Big Bang Festival Tour in 2008, performing at renowned venues & festivals like Heineken Music Hall, De Doelen, Tivoli Vredenburg, Muziekcentrum Frits Philips. The album’s music appeared in films and documentaries, highlighting its versatility and artistic range. The follow-up album, “Live in Tehran,” was released in 2010, recorded live at the Vahdat hall in Tehran, Iran, during Fajr Music Festival.
PRESS ON AFRO ANATOLIAN TALES
“It’s a fascinating and contemplative musical journey”.
- Songlines Magazine, UK
“Afro Anatolian Tales’ is a musical journey from the ‘inner-core’ to the ‘outer-reaches’, from the individual to the group, from the here and now back to the roots”.
- Double Moon Records
“Music journalist Charlie Gillet (BBC) even named his latest compilation after one of the tracks, ‘Otro Mundo’”.
- BBC
“The album has been highlighted for its innovative fusion of various musical traditions. It brings together different cultural influences, creating a unique and eclectic sound that has been well received by listeners and reviewers alike. This album is part of Sjahin During’s extensive work with world music groups and his collaboration with various international artists”.
- Slagwerkkrant
“An unforgettable introduction to the traditional music of Iran and the Kurdish region. Sjahin During and his ensemble deliver an adventurous musical dialogue with heavenly beautiful solos and an almost painfully beautiful experience”.
- Parool
“This live album captures the vibrant performances in Tehran, featuring collaborations with prominent Iranian musicians. The live aspect of the recording is praised for its dynamic energy and the seamless blend of different musical traditions, making it a memorable listening experience”.
- Slagwerkkrant
“The project was spotted by the music organization ‘Muziek Centrum Nederland’ and in 2008 During was asked to represent The Netherlands at the Fajar Music Festival in Tehran. The assignment was to create and perform new repertoire together with two of the most important musicians of Iran, Kourosh Babaei (kamanche) and Ali Rahimi (tombak, daf). Together with Ozhan Acikbas and Alex Simu, who form the heart of the band Tarhana, During immediately left for Iran for one of the most special experiences of his life. While rehearsing and improvising they created a few songs, that were performed in front of a very enthusiastic and receptive audience. The second evening was even more magical: the music unfolded on stage and took the musicians and audience on an inspiring journey”.
- MCN, Netherlands
FESTIVALS & VENUES
Big Bang Festival – NL 2009
Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
de Doelen, Rotterdam
TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
Muziekcentrum Frits Philips, Eindhoven
Muziekkwartier, Enschede
Vahdat hall Fajr Music Festival – Tehran, Iran
Fajr Music Festival – Shiraz, Iran
Eye Film Museum, Amsterdam
Mena Festival – Spot Groningen, Netherlands
Istanbul Ekspres Festival – Handelsbeurs, Ghent, Belgium
