The World In All It's Flaws, Mustafa's 'Dunya'

Mustafa taken by Jack McKain

Forgive us who all thought that When The Smoke Rises was Mustafa’s debut album. It was a detailed body of work that accounted for the childhood spent in Toronto, part memoir, part eulogy for the friends and people in close proximity who didn’t make it. The 2021 EP reclaimed a narrative that large numbers of people didn’t realise was missing.

That grief, so tightly held, is preserved in Mustafa’s debut album, Dunya. Dunya, which in Arabic means “the world in all its flaws,” is a fracturing of the self and the community as Mustafa deeply explores what makes him and his relationship with the Islamic faith, often referred to as “​​the longest, most peculiar relationship in my life.”

Beginning the album with ‘Name of God, warm acoustic guitar chords are strummed steadily before a bass emerges – and then, heartbreaking, Mustafa grapples with his faith caused by the abrupt death of his death.

This track has both a music video and also a stunning live performance featuring Micah Preite and Kibrom Birhane (masenqo).

‘What Happened, Mohamed?’ a more upbeat non-traditional ballad follows the former, again a loyal guitar rift interwoven with eastern elements provides the space for Mustafa to express his concern and empathy for the lostness that his friend feels but also pleads with him to make the right decision.

Telling a love story, where two people are conflicted and comprised by God and their feelings, ‘Imaan’, samples Abded Gadir Slamim and uses R&B songstress Snoh Aalegra’s backing vocals that alongside, the Egyptian oud reflects a heartfelt longing. The Sudanese-Canadian’s quiet expression lends more power to the song, he aches “ I’m wearing the things you said, on my face, like, they’re a prayer, you left me on a tightrope, between god and your father, and there is not enough air.”

Moving into ‘What good is a heart?’, there is a combination of artful storytelling and a catchy song that makes you smile despite the sadness. A romantic experience on the face of it, however, disguises darker themes and asks serious unflinching questions in a manner that only he can.

On ‘SNL’, we celebrate ordinary life in the community and the exploration of home as we are wafted into melancholic introspection - thoughts and memories fold into themselves.

We return to wide themes of faith with ‘I'll Go Anywhere’, a beautiful and honest way to reconnect with Islam inspired by a melody his parents sang to him as a child before the bittersweet ‘Beauty, end’ details an ironic appreciation for what has already passed.

Mustafa looks closely at when you are intricately linked to someone else on ‘Old Life’ delivering poetic lyricism singing: “I’m not yours, but there is a bit of your life that is mine”.

The politically charged ‘Gaza is Calling’ is a dedication and a testimony to what is currently happening in Palestine, and then returning just to leave his home again ‘Leaving Toronto’ is a goodbye featuring Daniel Caesar’ both vocalists complimenting each other masterfully.

Differing in sound slightly ‘Hope is a Knife’ has deep piano chords that settle against delicately sung vocals that leaf through the track.

Addressing someone who is no longer there, again, Mustafa exposes his grief as he mourns raising questions to be left unanswered on ‘Nouri’ – ultimately leaving himself and us curious and searching as the project comes to an end.

Mustafa finds comfort in the familiarity of the sounds of his culture, experimenting with Middle Eastern and Sundanese instrumentation with soul and folk in response to difficult life experiences – and to instal a vicarious self of self on his album. By the end of Duyna, the grief is loosened, shared and Mustafa’s flaws are accepted by himself and learned to live with.

The Toronto artist also recently announced his debut world tour will start in February 2025, beginning in San Francisco, America and ending in Sudan in May. You can buy tickets here.

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