Tradition grounds me, innovation excites me, says percussionist Taufiq Qureshi, who has transformed the African djembe into an instrument of Indian classical expression. From carrying forward his father’s teachings to collaborating with legends like A. R. Rahman and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Qureshi’s journey is a story of rootedness, spontaneity, and rhythm as a universal language.

xTaufiq Qureshi, one of India’s most inventive percussionists, has built a career on rhythm that bridges tradition and innovation. Son of tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha and younger brother of Ustad Zakir Hussain, Taufiq has carved out his own identity with the African djembe, vocal percussions, and experimental ensembles like Mumbai Stamp. In this conversation, he reflects on his journey of decoding tabla on

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