Qawwali thrills new generations

Despite more than 700 years of history and roots deep in traditional Sufi practices, Qawwali music is now experiencing a revival among young people desired*, thanks to popular songs that merge genres. Take a look at this phenomenon.

On a cool Saturday in February, at the Plaza Downtown in Evo Montreal, sixty young South Asians from all over the Indian subcontinent gather for an evening of qawwali. They sit on thin white carpets spread out on the floor to listen to the songs of Masroor Fateh Ali Khan, a student of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, an internationally renowned qawwali master who died in 1997.

A soft reddish warmth envelops the room. Patterns of multi-colored lights dance on the walls. From the stage, a mixture of harmonium, tabla, guitar and electric keyboard can be heard, and the melodious cry of Qawwal** pierce the air. Hands start beating rhythmically, bodies sway, and voices merge into a chorus of calls and answers.

Organized by the Pakistan Students Association (PSA) of McGill University, the event Qawwali Night highlights this form of devotional music popular in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Qawwali, a sung poetry whose origins date back to the Sufi communities of the 13th century^E century, deals with universal themes such as love, devotion and a deep desire for the divine. Traditionally, it was sung at shrines, during rituals, and at festivals honoring Sufi saints in areas of Punjab and Sindh, in present-day India and Pakistan. During these gatherings, which could last for hours, practitioners induced trance-like states in participants to promote spiritual experiences.

Seven centuries later, this mysticism is finding a new lease of life in the diasporas of South Asia, in Montreal and in other major Canadian cities. Over the past four years, qawwali events have been organized by student associations and arts organizations such as the Kabir Center.

This evening in Montreal, strong and moving voices, oriental instruments, and complex musical arrangements create an atmosphere of spiritual ecstasy in the room. In the audience, faces bear witness to their fervour.

Malik Tahir, a young Pakistani familiar with qawwali shows, is dressed to the nines for the occasion. Wearing a black tuxedo, he expresses his passion: “A qawwali show is one of my favorite events! It is a very unique experience. Love, faith, nature, and the universe are described in very different ways. The same line can be read as sad if you are sad, and as happy if you are happy! It is very profound, he notes, moved. It's transcendent, it reminds you of your humanity and it's very important for our community bond.”

Outside the place where the show is taking place, the hall is bright and airy. People are chatting and mingling with each other with enthusiasm. Tables are set with care and there are dishes filled with Biryani, chicken noodles, spring rolls, and a chai tea vending machine.

Labiba Malik, a young Bangladeshi woman, adds: “The voices of these Ustads*** are so powerful, they come from within. The lyrics describe emotions so well. For me, it's nostalgic: when I was younger, I listened to a lot of qawwali.” She, who has attended numerous shows in Bangladesh, is going to a performance in Montreal for the first time. “Now that I have grown up, with life and the passage of time, I recognize myself in these words. You don't need great pain or heartbreak to be touched right in the heart.”

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A new wind of connections

Although it has ancient origins, qawwali evolves and adapts to the ears. The addition of electronic instruments and the fusion with other musical genres made it possible to create more modern sounds and arrangements.

‍Coke Studio, a Pakistani musical series that is very popular in the Indian subcontinent, has also revived interest in traditional music among Desis and made this musical heritage known outside of South Asia. The show has become a real cultural phenomenon. It is also a platform for performances combining traditional and modern music, including qawwali and rock, pop and electronic music.

This ability of qawwali to create new relationships and to transcend cultural, religious and generational barriers is one of the fundamental elements of its appeal and resurgence among young people from diasporas.

“What I've noticed is that people are gathering around qawwali,” says Salma Sikdar, another Bangladeshi student who is attending a show like this for the first time. She wants to get closer to her roots and have a new experience. “Even if some people are very demanding in terms of musical preferences, qawwali leaves its mark. And when the music starts, they all sing together, and the personal differences disappear.”

Labiba Malik shares her friend's opinion. “It's a reflex. The hands just start to move, and you say,”Wah, wah!****”, she said animatedly.

For her, the strength of this music also lies in its ability to create bridges between generations. “No matter the age! Sometimes we're sitting with our parents in the car, and when the pace starts, everyone gets carried away. We tap rhythmically on the object we have at hand: the dashboard becomes our harmonium. It is a collective experience. This music makes everyone feel at home, young or old,” she says.

“These things used to be reserved for our fathers and uncles, and we listened from another room,” she adds. In the past, qawwali was in fact mainly considered to be music for male seniors, she says. “Now we are all involved.”

Nowadays, qawwali also seduces Desis non-muslims. Its popularity has meant that it resonates at weddings, festivals, and concerts in Canada and elsewhere.

Nida Patel, a young Indian woman, attended her first qawwali concert during our visit. “It's really interesting for me to discover — or rediscover — these songs today through these performances. It is a common heritage that we have as South Asians,” she tells us.

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Exciting by returning to simplicity

In the corner of the room, on a huge white armchair, we find the Qawwal Masroor Fateh Ali Khan. The artist of the evening who is known for his songs Sun Saiyan And Mahiya Vey welcomes us with the kindness of an uncle. Smiling, he explains to us that qawwali is a divine tool for strengthening communities.

“Qawwali is a link between souls. It connects the Rooh***** people. One expresses the purity of one's feelings, one transmits spiritual and devotional lessons,” he says wisely. He moves his hands gently as he speaks: “By creating new compositions and new melodies, you resonate with new audiences, but the principle remains the same: that of creating devotional music.”

Her song La Makani refers in particular to one of the poems of Baba Bulleh Shah, the Punjabi Sufi philosopher of the 18th century^E century known to older generations. The words bear witness to the beauty and omnipresence of the divine in all human beings:

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Kinnoo la makani das day ho

Tussi har rang day vich wasday ho

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Pucho aadam kisnay aanda hai

Kithon aa ya hai kithe janda hai

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Authey kis da tennu lanjha hai

Authey kha dana uth nasde ho

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Bulleh Shah Anayat Araf Hai

Jhera mere dhil da waris hai

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Main Loya Te O Paras Hai

Jude mal tsi ghasde no.

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The one you call homeless (God)

[It] exists in all colors, in all places.

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Ask the men: where do they come from and where do they go?

Who gives them directions?

Who collects the grains to eat?

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Bulleh Shah is a recipient of Grace.

[God] is the guardian of her heart.

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I am the iron and [He] is the touchstone

With which we are made.

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“The sincerity of the feelings [in these songs] is the reason why qawwali still touches people and transcends generations and communities today,” adds the Qawwal. After stopping in India, Pakistan and Canada, he is preparing to continue his tour in the United Kingdom.

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To go further

For those who want to discover traditional qawwali, Masroor Fateh Ali Khan recommends devotional songs by his master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Allah Hu, Mast Nazron Se Allah Bachaye And Kali Kali Zulfon Ke.

For modern pieces, guests of the evening offer Tu Jhoom by Abida Parveen and Naseebo Lal.

* Desi : A term used to describe the peoples, cultures, and products of the Indian subcontinent and their diasporas. Derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “land, country.”

** Qawwal : Qawwali singer.

*** Ustad : Honorary title to designate a master or recognized expert in qawwali.

**** “Wah, wah! ” : Short form of the expression Urdu and Hindie “Wah, kya baat hai! ”, which expresses enthusiasm or admiration for something beautiful. The expression is often used during shows.

‍***** Rooh : Arabic word used in Muslim and Sufi communities to refer to the divine spirit and life force of a person. It often means the “true self,” or the immaterial, immortal soul, of a living being.