Qawwali Music History

Amir Khusrau, a 13th-century poet and musician, is credited with introducing Qawwali music to the Indian subcontinent.

Qawwali music traditionally uses Persian as its primary language, although other languages such as Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi are also used.

The tabla, a pair of hand drums, is the primary percussion instrument used in Qawwali music.

Qawwali singers traditionally wear a sherwani, a long coat-like garment, along with a kurta and pajama.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a Pakistani Qawwali singer, is widely regarded as the 'King of Qawwali' due to his immense popularity and contributions to the genre.

The lead singer in a Qawwali group is known as the 'Qawwal'.

The Sabri Brothers, consisting of Ghulam Farid Sabri and Maqbool Ahmed Sabri, were renowned for their unique style of 'Jugalbandi' (duet singing) in Qawwali music.

Qawwali performances traditionally feature a circular seating arrangement, with the Qawwals seated in the center and the audience surrounding them.

Anup Jalota, an Indian singer, is known for his devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna, and he has also performed Qawwali music.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the nephew of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is known for his powerful and energetic Qawwali performances.

The term 'Matla' is used to refer to the chorus or refrain in Qawwali music.

Atif Aslam, a Pakistani singer, is known for his unique style of 'Qawwali Fusion', where he blends Qawwali music with contemporary elements.

Aziz Mian, a Pakistani Qawwali singer, is known for his contributions to the 'Mehfil-e-Sama' tradition, which involves spiritual gatherings where Qawwali music is performed.

The Sabri Brothers are known for their popular song 'Dama Dam Mast Qalandar', which has become a widely recognized Qawwali song.