“My name is Feroz, but in the streets of Hyderabad, everyone knows me as Jabri. I’ve been playing Marfa for 25 years—I’ve grown up with these beats around me since I was a small boy. Marfa is a living part of our Hyderabadi heritage, rooted in places like Barkas and AC Guards, where our community has kept it alive ever since Yemeni soldiers brought these drums to the Nizams’ service over two centuries ago. My elders passed this art down to me, and I’ve given my life to learning every beat and making sure our history doesn’t fade away.

Today, I lead a team of twenty, performing at weddings and grand processions all across the city. We bring the energy with different styles—from the classic Marfa and Savari to the Nagin beat and the old-school Yabu Bakke Rabu Sala. Every style has its own pace, and whether it’s a small celebration in a narrow lane or a massive city-wide parade, these beats have a way of bringing everyone together. Seeing the crowd just lose themselves in the dance makes every hour of hard work worth it.

For us, Marfa is more than just a performance; it is Hyderabad’s identity. We’ve taken our drums to other states and played for all kinds of people, but for me, it has never been about the fame or the money—it’s about the legacy of my ancestors and making sure the pulse of Hyderabad is never silenced.”