Malaysian Devotional Music Group Makes Impact At Algeria Festival

By Shakir Husain

NEW DELHI, July 6 (Bernama) --  Malaysian devotional music group Inteam captivated audiences at the 11th Constantine International Chanting Festival in Algeria, bridging cultural and linguistic divides during their debut North African tour.

Dressed in traditional Malay attire, the group delivered a soulful performance that stood out among nine foreign ensembles — including those from Oman, Tunisia, Belgium, Jordan, Senegal, Syria, Tanzania, and Bosnia — invited to the prestigious festival held in the historic city of Constantine from June 25 to 30.

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"Their traditional Malay attire sparked a keen interest and admiration among the international audience. This act of cultural diplomacy added a special touch to their artistic presentation," Malaysian Ambassador to Algeria, Rizany Irwan Muhamad Mazlan, told Bernama on Sunday.

Inteam was among the nine foreign groups invited to perform at the chanting festival (Mahrajan Al Inshad Al Duwali) in the northeastern city of Constantine. The event also featured seven Algerian teams and participants from Oman.

Inteam described their first tour of North Africa as a journey transcending linguistic, national and cultural boundaries through nasyid, a form of Islamic vocal music.

Their participation in the prestigious festival not only strengthens Malaysia's cultural representation abroad, but also opens doors for greater collaboration on future international artistic platforms.

"Their presence was a testament to the role of Islamic performing arts in fostering unity and mutual respect across cultures," Rizany said.

Youth training workshops and seminars focused on preserving musical heritage and promoting intercultural dialogue were also held during the festival.

-- BERNAMA