Istanbul Sema Group

Istanbul Sema Group, as Türkiye’s premier independent Sema group, promotes and preserves the traditional Sema ceremony of devotional Turkish music and whirling dervishes, a key aspect of the Mevlevi order founded by Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi in the 13th century.

Led by Sheikh Hüseyin Erek, in this ritural – literally “The Sublime Ritual” – whirling dervishes mesmerise as they whirl in deep remembrance of the Divine. The ritual is accompanied by vocals and instruments, each one with a deep symbolic spiritual meaning, thus preserving and honouring the rich mystical tradition of the Mevlevi Sufi order.