Latif Bolat

Turkish Mystic Sufi scholar and musician Latif Bolat will present music, poetry, Sufi mystic stories and images from the ancient land of Turkey.  

Latif Bolat plays Turkish Folk Music and devotional Sufi songs which are called Ilahi and Nefes, from the Anatolian peninsula. The lyrics of Ilahis or Nefeses are taken largely from the great mystic poets Yunus Emre, Niyazi Misri and many other ancient troubadours of Turkey. The program also includes sacred ballads composed by Latif Bolat. Throughout the program, devotional poetry will be recited from 13th Century Sufi poets Yunus Emre, Rumi, and images of Turkish people and scenery will be reflected on a screen.  

During the concert, Ms. Serap Yilmaz, a devotional dancer called Whirling Dervish from Turkey, will also present this 800-year-old dance tradition over Latif Bolat's music. Serap Yilmaz is a Turkish Whirling Dervish from Istanbul. She has been taking part in many spiritual events with her poetry reciting and Whirling. This will be her debut in North America as a devotional dancer during Latif Bolat's performances.

This is the latest in a monthly series of free events in collaboration with the Friends for the Public Library.