Performed by the Konya Metropolitan Municipality Turkish Sufi Music and Sema Ensemble. Presented by Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London, in collaboration with Konya Metropolitan Municipality, and with the support of Turkish Airlines.

Rhythms of the Divine brings the centuries-old traditions of Mevlevi music and Sema to Sadler’s Wells in a special evening of Turkish Sufi music and the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony.

Rooted in the spiritual and cultural legacy of Mevlânâ Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, the Mevlevi tradition brings together poetry, music, contemplation and movement within a rich cultural and spiritual practice that has been transmitted across generations. At its heart is the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony, in which music, recitation and the measured movements of the semazens unfold as interconnected elements of a carefully structured ceremonial tradition.

Recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Mevlevi Sema tradition holds an important place within Türkiye’s living cultural heritage. Konya, where Mevlânâ spent much of his life and where his mausoleum stands today, remains one of the principal historical and cultural centres of this tradition.

The evening unfolds in two parts. The first presents a concert of traditional Turkish Sufi music, introducing audiences to the rich musical repertoire associated with the Mevlevi tradition. Performed by the Ensemble’s musicians and vocalists, the programme draws on a musical heritage shaped over centuries by devotional poetry, composition and collective remembrance.

The second part is devoted to the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony. Accompanied by the musicians and vocal ensemble, the semazens move through the successive stages of the ceremony, whose gestures, music and symbolism form part of an established ritual structure. Each element of the Sema carries its own meaning, contributing to a contemplative experience centred on remembrance, spiritual reflection and the human search for closeness to the Divine.

Music is integral to the ceremony. The distinctive voice of the ney, together with the rhythmic foundation of the kudüm, other traditional instruments, vocal works and sacred recitation, creates the musical framework through which the different stages of the Sema unfold. The relationship between sound, silence and movement gives the ceremony its distinctive character and reflects the depth of the Mevlevi musical tradition.

The Konya Metropolitan Municipality Turkish Sufi Music and Sema Ensemble brings together musicians, vocalists and semazens dedicated to preserving and presenting Turkish Sufi music and the Mevlevi Sema tradition with respect for its historical form, musical language and cultural context.

Through Rhythms of the Divine, audiences at Sadler’s Wells are invited to encounter a living tradition in which music, poetry and movement come together in an expression of contemplation, remembrance and spiritual devotion.

Established in 2010, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London is the Republic of Türkiye’s official cultural institute, promoting Turkish language and culture worldwide through over 90 centres abroad. Located in the heart of London, Fitzrovia, it offers a refined programme of exhibitions, performances, and courses that reflect both the depth of Türkiye’s heritage and the vitality of its contemporary arts. A space for cultural discovery and inspiration, the Institute welcomes audiences throughout the year to experience the richness of Türkiye in an engaging and dynamic setting.

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