Reflections on the UK Tours..."universal humanistic values"

Audiences outside Indonesia may not be aware of the wide variety of music performed by Emha and Kiai Kanjeng. On their recent UK and European tours they performed a range of traditional Javanese and Indonesian songs, Arabic songs of religious devotion as well as playful takes on Western hits including the Beatles. They also covered a number of Cat Stevens songs including Wild World and their own versions of traditional Muslim songs such as Shalawat Badr set to the tune of Silent Night and Rod Stewart’s Sailing.

Part of the following text was published in the Indonesian language version of the "The Silent Pilgrimage" in June 2006 by Kompas Gramedia. We are indebted to Aidinal Alrashid for his comments.

The covers of Cat Stevens’ songs were an important part of the repertoire for various reasons. Emha and Kiai Kanjeng have long maintained a respect for Yusuf Islam and their performances in 2004 often included a rendition of Wild World, sung by Ananto Wibowo, who was then Kiai Kanjeng’s lead vocalist. The group harboured hopes that Yusuf Islam would attend at least one of their performances in the UK. Emha himself, in one email report back to Indonesia from the tour, wrote “Oh Allah, please just bring me Yusuf Islam.”

Their prayers were answered when during a key performance at SOAS[1] in London Yusuf Islam and his wife were observed in the audience. After the performance, Yusuf and Emha met and quickly struck up a friendship. Aidinal Alrashid is Indonesian and an officer at the British Council, London. He is a supporter of Emha and Kiai Kanjeng and assisted with arrangements for the UK tours. Aidinal has particularly interesting insights into the concert at SOAS and Emha’s first meeting with Yusuf Islam. The respect between these two artists and Islamic figures was mutual. Following is an account of the evening that Aidinal sent to long after the event in December 2006:

…Kyai Kanjeng and Cak Nun have surpassed expectations as usual, outstanding! I still remember on their two visits to the UK, how they were able to totally captivate the audience and mesmerised them into harmony with their enchanting music just as a snake-charmer would bewitch and totally hypnotise/entrance a snake to sway to his music. During their first tour in November 2004, their first concert was to a packed audience at SOAS, University of London. During the concert Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), was so taken in by the charismatic performance of Kyai Kanjeng and Cak Nun that he was swaying and moving to the music, and asked me to take him backstage to meet Cak Nun during the interval, which I did. Yusuf Islam was totally enchanted and impressed by the performance that he was discussing so many points on music and Islam with Cak Nun during the interval and after the show.

During the second tour of the UK in March 2005, Cak Nun and Kyai Kanjeng performed at the most prestigious event for Muslims in the UK, The Muslim News Awards of Excellence, which the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, attended as a guest of honour and gave a speech. Cak Nun and Kyai Kanjeng totally enchanted the distinguished Muslim and non-Muslim audience, that you could see how they thoroughly enjoyed the show, which proved that Islamic music need not be as dry and boring as what is normally shown and understood amongst Muslims in the UK. There were the Qariah who beautifully recited the Holy Qur’an, followed by the group singing the salawat and also contemporary songs that harmoniously weaved its way into a very universal and spiritual sequence that gave messages on the greatness and compassion of Allah and universal humanistic values.

It is important to note that Gordon Brown, Prime Minister in waiting, was so enchanted by the performance that he made a mention in his speech of how humbled he felt and how amazed he was at the outstanding performance by Kyai Kanjeng, especially as he did not realise before this that Islamic music could be so interesting, uplifting and enchanting, and that it was good to see women taking active part in the performance. Everywhere they went in the UK whether it was in England or Scotland, Cak Nun & Kyai Kanjeng captivated the hearts and soul of the audience, majority of whom were not Muslims, and whether they were singing Silent Night that wove into the Salawat, or contemporary songs that became universal and spiritual in theme, the audience were always involved, and in this inclusiveness they all became one in unity and in harmony, a testament to universal humanity and God’s love and compassion. Cak Nun and Kyai Kanjeng have achieved in one performance what would take the Indonesian Embassy years to achieve in terms of Indonesian public/cultural diplomacy. March on Cak Nun and Kyai Kanjeng, the de facto cultural Ambassador of Indonesia and Islam!
…

Thanks very much.

Wassalam

Aidinal Alrashid

[1] The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.