Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam

Punk music and the Muslim faith rarely intersect: “taqwacore”—which filmmaker Omar Majeed defines as “the Islamic concept of higher consciousness” combined with “a subgenre of punk rock”—is a notable exception. In this documentary, Majeed introduces several proponents, starting with Michael Muhammad Knight, author of the 2003 novel The Taqwacores, who converted to Islam at age 16. Knight's book, in which punk rockers practice their own version of Islam, inspired Kominas singer/bass player Basim Usmani, a Pakistani immigrant living in Boston. Other bands that have emerged bear such provocative names as Drunk Imams, Punk Ayatollahs, Masochistic Muftis, Junkie Sheikhs, and Secret Trial Five, which features a gay frontwoman. Deciding to organize a tour of the far-flung groups, Knight here secures a van and hits the road with Majeed and the Kominas in tow. Along the way, Knight and the band members give readings and interviews, perform, and meet up with other musicians. Although Rolling Stone, the BBC, and other news outlets take notice, the trip isn't all smooth sailing: promoters cancel a few shows and two of the acts tank at a Muslim convention in Chicago. The film concludes in Pakistan, where Usmani and band mate Shahjehan Khan relocate to form a new ska-oriented group, which continues to attract open-minded listeners while offending the more traditional. As Knight observes, “There is a cool Islam; you just have to find it.” Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)