Listen: Qawwali examples
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About Qawwali
Qawwali is a music genre that emerged in India and Pakistan in the 1450s. It is usually classed as a form of music of India, devotional song and Sufi music.
Typical instrumentation includes tabla, Indian harmonium, dholak, tanpura and voice.
Well-known performers associated with it include Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Asha Bhosle, Shreya Ghoshal, Mohammed Rafi, Riz Ahmed and Noor Jehan.
Qawwali has given rise to 2 subgenres on this site, such as Filmi qawwali and Urban Qawwali.
From Wikipedia
Qawwali is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing that originated in South Asia. Traditionally performed at Sufi shrines (dargahs) across the Indian subcontinent as part of spiritual gatherings, qawwali aims to invoke divine remembrance (dhikr), induce spiritual ecstasy (wajd), and draw the listener closer to Allah (God). Qawwali remains widely popular throughout Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Although qawwali has gained mainstream popularity since the late 20th century, its core remains rooted in Islamic mysticism (Sufism).
Genre family tree
Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Qawwali.
Key artists
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
- Asha Bhosle
- Shreya Ghoshal
- Mohammed Rafi
- Riz Ahmed
- Noor Jehan
- Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
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Frequently asked questions
What is Qawwali?
Qawwali is a music genre that emerged in India and Pakistan in the 1450s. It is usually classed as a form of music of India, devotional song and Sufi music.
Where and when did Qawwali originate?
Qawwali originated in India and Pakistan in the 1450s.
Who are famous Qawwali artists?
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Asha Bhosle, Shreya Ghoshal, Mohammed Rafi, Riz Ahmed and Noor Jehan.
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q512410 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Qawwali – CC BY-SA 4.0
- MusicBrainz genre – CC0
- Sohini Qawwali by Imdad Khan (d. 1920) – Public domain