Qawwali

Qawwali is a musical practice connected with Sufi traditions in South Asia. It brings devotional poetry into a shared performance, with listeners invited to attend closely and, in some settings, join the refrains. Its early history is described in more than one way. Encyclopaedia Britannica identifies the 13th–14th-century poet Amir Khusrau as the figure popularly credited with creating qawwali and says his works are central to its traditional repertoire. A Smithsonian Folklife Festival account describes the genre as converging from Persian, Arabic, Turkish and Indian musical traditions on the subcontinent in the 13th century. Smithsonian Folkways, discussing a specific 1977 recording, notes that the form heard there probably dates from the Mughal period. These accounts point to a tradition shaped over time rather than a single, fully documented moment of invention.

A qawwali ensemble commonly brings together one or more lead singers, a supporting chorus, harmonium and percussion such as tabla or dholak. Chorus members may clap while repeating a refrain; the lead singer develops the melody through repetition and improvisation. The performance can build in intensity as musical phrases recur and the rhythm quickens. The exact ensemble and song sequence vary between groups and occasions. Smithsonian Folkways recordings document different ensembles and song forms, while music reference sources describe audience participation as part of the tradition’s interactive character.

Qawwali lyrics draw on Sufi poetry and devotional verse. Repertoires include Persian, Punjabi and Hindi texts, as well as Urdu and Arabic compositions; the balance differs between performers and traditions. Songs may praise God, the Prophet Muhammad, Sufi teachers or saints. Poetic images of longing, separation and love can express devotion to the divine, so language that sounds like worldly romance may also carry a spiritual meaning for performers and listeners. Some performance sequences include forms such as hamd, praise of God, and naat, praise of the Prophet.

Qawwali is performed at Sufi shrines and in gatherings for spiritual listening, sometimes called mehfil-e-samāʿ. A shrine performance and a commissioned gathering elsewhere may use different song sequences. In the modern era, recordings, festivals and touring concerts have carried qawwali to listeners far beyond its South Asian devotional settings. These newer venues can include mixed audiences, but the music’s devotional vocabulary and spiritual purpose remain central to the genre.

Qawwali reached a much wider international audience in the late 20th century. Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a major figure in that expansion: his recordings and energetic performances brought the tradition to new listeners, including through collaborations and film soundtracks. The Sabri Brothers also helped present qawwali to audiences outside South Asia. Smithsonian Folkways preserves recordings and explanatory notes that document both the music and the variety of performers and devotional song forms.