BAVINA SOOKDEO
“I believe that for all cultures, one of the main things that anyone can relate to is the music. Music keeps us connected to our cultural roots and religious/spiritual traditions that are passed down to us by our ancestors. Music promotes a kind of unity and breaks barriers between different cultures because it brings everyone together.”
That’s the viewpoint of Indian classical and filmi singer Aleena Shehenaz Ali on the promotion and preservation of Indian culture as Trinidad and Tobago observes Indian Heritage Month.
Ali sings from Bollywood classics, Qasidas (an Arabic poem, usually in monorhyme) to local classical music. Her repertoire reflects her deep-rooted faith in Islam.
She has recorded several songs including, Thodi der, Afsose tu, Kabhi ae haqeeqat e Muntazar, Parho Kalma, Meri Maa, Dilbaro, Suraj hua Maddham, Mera dil ye Pukaare aaja, Hum Yaha, Tere ne and Oh Sawaliya.
Ali began singing at Islamic functions when she was nine. Her inspiration for music came from her late grandfather, Jameer Hosein, who was a local classical singer, and who let her perform with him.
“Seeing my grandfather perform and how much he enjoyed it, is what prompted me to pursue a career in music. Being able to share his performance with people and seeing how much they loved, appreciated and respected him for it, was amazing.
“Pretty soon I got jobs on my own.”
She sang in the choirs at her primary and secondary schools – Montrose APS Vedic Primary School and ASJA Girls’ College, Charlieville.
“This gave me the opportunity to perform in almost every school function.”
Ali studied music from age nine to 12 at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Caroni. Music professor Dr Ruby Malik was her vocal coach.
“I always had the hunger to expand my knowledge and improve my vocal abilities.”
Ali, 31, was born in Kelly Village, Caroni, but now lives in Freeport. Her career is as diverse as the melodies she creates. At 20, she joined an Arouca band and performed for about three years.
“I was even invited to perform at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s to perform at the Government’s Eid dinner in 2013. Music has always been my passion.”
[caption id="attachment_1083822" align="alignnone" width="678"] Aleena Shehenaz Ali: Being a Muslim has had an influence on what kind of singer I am. -[/caption]
Her quest for professional training and advancement led her to pursue a course at UTT (University of Trinidad and Tobago). In 2010, she applied to study Indian classical music at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port of Spain campus where she was one of six students who possessed both academic and audition standards.
“We were chosen for the first-ever batch of students for this class and I was the only female student and the youngest, to have ever done this level of Indian classical music in the entire western hemisphere.”
The course titled Sangeet Prathama consisted of vocals, harmonium, tabla and sound technology.
When selecting her performance pieces, Ali is always mindful of her conn
