In January 2003 preliminary conversations took place between Viram Jasani of the Asian Music Circuit in London and prominent Afghan tabla player and London resident Yusuf Mahmud. Yusef met formally with the Asian Music Circuit in late January 2003 to finalise a first-of-its-kind UK tour of musicians from Afghanistan. This tour would involve both artists residing in Afghanistan who had never been heard outside the country and fellow Afghan musicians residing in England. Some of these artists had last performed in public together over 20 years ago. The musical concept of this project would represent both sacred spiritual mystical poetry and the music of the Islamic Sufi tradition, as well as traditional Afghan and Persian folk music.

Apart from Yusef Mahmud himself (who hails from a long line of master musicians and whose father, master tabla player Ustaad Asef Mahmud, also resides in London), the artists invited to participate in this project included: Wahid Shaida’l, vocals (Afghanistan); rebab player Ghulam Hussain (Afghanistan); and dutar player Ghulam Haidry (Afghanistan). Also invited were two artists from Iran, which shares cultural musical and cultural traditions with Afghanistan: nai (flute) player Ahmad Anusha (currently residing in Germany) and daff (frame drum) player Hussain Zahawi (currently residing in London). Also brought on board for the project was consultant Afghanistan scholar Bruce Wannell, who provided specialist support and co-ordination of programme and workshops.