“My name is Feroz, but everyone here calls me Jabri. I’ve been playing Marfa for 25 years since I was a kid.

Marfa isn’t just a music band in Hyderabad. It’s part of our daily life, the beat that turns streets into dance floors at weddings and processions. It came here in the 18th century with East African Siddi warriors and Yemeni soldiers from Hadhramaut who served as cavalry guards in the Nizams’ army. Our ancestors were among those guards. That’s how I learned every rhythm on daffs, dhols, and thapi sticks, so this Afro-Arab heritage stays alive.

Today, I lead a team of 20 players for shaadis, Muharram tazzias, and even Ganesh immersions across the Old City and beyond. We play different styles — traditional Marfa, Savari, Nagin, and a special one called Yabu Bakke Rabu Sala. Each has its own energy, mixing Arabic tunes with local favourites. That rush when the crowd starts moving to our beats? That feeling is unmatched, worth every long practice session.

For us Hyderabadis, Marfa is identity, emotion, and pride. It’s been part of the city for generations. We’ve taken it to places outside Hyderabad too, but for me, it’s never been about spotlight. It’s about honoring our roots and passing these beats to the next generation.”