ARIFA, formerly known as Afro Anatolian Tales, was founded in Amsterdam in 2010 by Turkish-Dutch percussionist Sjahin During. Since then, ARIFA has released seven albums across both projects and performed in 32 countries across five continents. All albums received five-star reviews, were awarded Best Dutch World Music Release, and were included in a BBC compilation. The ensemble has appeared at renowned venues and festivals including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, North Sea Jazz, Bimhuis, London Jazz Festival at Southbank Centre, Kennedy Arts Center Washington, Jarasum Jazz Festival Korea, Chicago World Music Festival, Havana Jazz, Istanbul Akbank Jazz, Jodhpur RIFF Festival India, Womex, Jazzahead and many others.

Rooted in the ancient traditions of the Silk Road, their music reimagines the songs, rhythms and melodic languages encountered along these routes, from Anatolia, Armenia and the Black Sea to Persia and India, where acoustic instruments converge with electronic layers and improvisation into a cinematic journey

Over the years ARIFA has shared the stage with extraordinary musicians from along the routes, each encounter opening new dialogues and music, each gathering offering a new story.