ABOUT
Afro Anatolian Tales weaves ancient Silk Road songs, rhythms, and modern sound into a musical bridge between East and West, a mesmerizing journey where tradition transforms into timeless innovation.
Afro Anatolian Tales is a boundary crossing music project founded by Dutch Turkish percussionist Sjahin During. The debut album, Afro Anatolian Tales, was released in 2008 by the renowned Turkish label Double Moon. It received international recognition, was included in the Top 5 of BBC journalist Charlie Gillett’s compilation, and was awarded a 5 star review in Songlines Magazine, which described it as “a fascinating and contemplative musical journey.”
Since then, the project has developed 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 brings together ancient rhythmic and melodic elements with contemporary electronics and improvisation.
Based in Amsterdam and led by its core trio, the ensemble creates what it describes as “a musical bridge of sounds between the Orient and Occident,” exploring shifting formations and immersive soundscapes. The music moves fluidly across genres, weaving Eastern and Western influences into a vibrant and cinematic listening experience.
In performance, a fluid combination of traditional and contemporary musical languages merges with live electronics and immersive sound design, offering a contemporary interpretation of timeless traditions.
Afro Anatolian Tales works closely with festivals and venues through residencies and artistic collaborations, developing performances that grow organically from the moment, the place and the people involved. As a result, no two performances are ever the same. Each concert becomes a unique dialogue between tradition, innovation and the present moment.
Tarab Dance is the third production by Afro Anatolian Tales and will be accompanied by an international album release tour launching in 2026.
Live at verkade Fabriek
Live at OBA Theater
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 paints a soundscape deeply rooted in tradition, unfolding into a captivating dialogue between East and West, tradition and modernity. The ensemble led by Sjahin During elevates musical cross-pollination to an art form, always grounded in authenticity and craftsmanship.”
- Ton Maas,
MixedWorldMusic Magazine
“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
“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
“Music journalist Charlie Gillet (BBC) even named his latest compilation after one of the tracks, ‘Otro Mundo’”.
- BBC
“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 discovered by Muziek Centrum Nederland, which invited Sjahin During in 2008 to represent the Netherlands at the Fajr Music Festival in Tehran. There, in collaboration with leading Iranian musicians, new repertoire emerged through rehearsal and improvisation, resulting in performances that deeply resonated with the audience. The second evening proved especially magical, as the music unfolded into an inspiring journey shared by both musicians and listeners.”
- Muziek Centrum Nederland, Netherlands
FESTIVALS & VENUES
Bimhuis
Big Bang Festival
Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
Lantaren Venster, Rotterdam
TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht
Paradox, Tilburg
NMACC – Mumbai
Vahdat hall – Tehran, Iran
Fajr Music Festival – Shiraz, Iran
Eye Film Museum, Amsterdam
Mena Festival – Spot Groningen, Netherlands
Istanbul Ekspres Festival – Handelsbeurs, Ghent, Belgium
