Hamza is a Moroccan artist, Sufi singer and composer, the recipient of numerous individual and collective awards for his music in Morocco. The foundation of Hamza's musical career began through singing in schools and local festivals.

Maryam is a poet and pharmacist with an MA in Creative Writing from MMU, mentored by Andrew McMillan and Carol Ann Duffy. She leads healing and writing workshops blending spirituality and mindfulness to inspire women to live their truth. With poems published in Echo and performances at WOW Festival and Qisetna, she celebrates the transformative power of words.

In collaboration with Salaam Festival, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü – London presents a special Turkish Sufi music piece, bringing together the profound sounds of the ney (reed flute) and tanbur, two instruments central to the Ottoman–Turkish spiritual tradition. This performance draws on centuries of devotional practice within the Sufi orders, where music has long served as a vessel for remembrance (dhikr), contemplation, and inner peace. With its meditative melodies and deeply moving character, the concert invites audiences into an atmosphere of reflection echoing the timeless heritage of Anatolian mysticism and offering a moment of solace. 

Mēhmēt Zahīd
Born and raised in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, Mehmet Zahit began his journey with classical Turkish music in a jewellery shop, studying the ney with Metin İspiroğlu. His path deepened in İstanbul during high school, when he met his principal teacher, Süleyman Erguner, with whom he continued learning throughout his medical studies. Now a trainee psychiatrist in West Yorkshire, Mehmet especially cherishes making music with friends, and during car journeys with his family.

Dr. Muhammed Recai Çiftçi
Born in Dinar, Afyonkarahisar, in 1984, he graduated from Marmara University's Faculty of Theology in 2006. He has published works in national and international publications on Turkish music in general, religious Turkish music in particular, temple music, computational musicology, and the makamlar recitation of the Quran, and continues his scientific research. From a young age, the artist has been interested in Quranic recitation and religious music. For many years, he participated in the musical training of the late Yahya Soyyiğit, a member of the Istanbul Historical Turkish Music Ensemble, and Habil Öndeş, retired imam of the Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque. He also received training in Turkish music theory and repertoire at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Art and Vocational Education Courses (İSMEK). He participated in the training and concert activities of the Istanbul Mufti's Office Sufi Music Choir and participated as a performer featured in national publications. He has composed in many forms of Turkish music, including durak, ilahi, şugul, şarkı, and nefes, as well as major forms such as the Mevlevi ritual and tawhid. He also performs the tanbur, kudüm, and daire instruments.

Speaking English and Arabic, he currently serves in the United Kingdom under the Presidency of Religious Affairs.