A concert with participation of musicians from Tajikistan’s Academy of Maqam took place at the Rohat Chaikhana (teahouse) in Dushanbe on June 14. The concert was organized under support of France’s Embassy in Dushanbe.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Yasmine Gouédard, Ambassador of France to Tajikistan, noted that 2018 had been declared as the Year of Tourism and Folk Crafts, and therefore, they had selected the Rohat Chaikhana for holding the concert. “The architecture of the building, national cuisines, national dress and all the rest — all these are the result of the folk crafts,” Ambassador Gouédard noted.
Representatives of the dalmatic missions and international organizations accredited to Tajikistan as well as cultural and public figures of Tajikistan attended the event.
Designed by architect Daniil Gendlin and Tajik craftsman Mirzorahim Alimov, the Rohat Chaikhana was built in 1958.
Recall, CNN in February 2017 listed the Rohat chaikhana (teahouse) located in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, among eleven of the world’s best teahouses.
Literally translated chaikhana means "teahouse," and they can be found all over Tajikistan. Folks — mainly men — once gathered inside chaikhana for discussions, but these days they're a place for anyone to socialize over a cup of tea.
The ornate Rohat in Dushanbe is one of the finest places to lounge and sip tea while enjoying city views, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, the Rohat teahouse has not been inscribed on the list of sites of historical and architectural significance in Dushanbe.
The Academy of Maqam was founded in 2003 by Abduvali Abdurashidov, a leading music scholar and celebrated performer classical music (Shashmaqam). The Academy offers comprehensive training to highly qualified students in historical, theoretical, and practical elements of Shashmaqam. The Academy’s curriculum includes fifteen different subjects ranging from vocal technique, performance on musical instruments and music theory, to the history of world religions, analysis of classical poetry, and Persian language.
The Academy is beneficiary and long-term partner of the Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia (AKMICA)’s Touring Program
The Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia (AKMICA), a program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, was created in 2000 by His Highness the Aga Khan to contribute to the preservation, documentation, and further development of Central Asia’s musical heritage. These goals include revitalizing important musical repertories by helping tradition-bearers pass on their knowledge and craft; building sustainable cultural institutions that can eventually be maintained by local organizations and communities; and supporting artists who are developing new approaches to the performance of Central Asian music. Worldwide, the Music Initiative strives to increase knowledge about Central Asia’s music and culture, particularly among students, and to nurture collaborations among musicians from different parts of Central Eurasia and beyond.
