Qawwali: The Divine Connection Between Music, Poetry, and Performances
Qawwali is a music genre that has been around for centuries and has gained global popularity recently. It originated in South Asia and uniquely blends Islamic mysticism, poetry, and music. But it goes beyond music; it also encompasses both performance and visual arts, creating an atmosphere of spiritual ecstasy that connects the audience with the performers.
Though performed in many regions of India, it has its roots in the country’s northern region, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
A Qawwali performance involves a group of singers and musicians performing together, the highlight of the performance is the qawwali, who is responsible for leading the group in call-and-response singing. The qawwali’s voice sets the tone for the entire performance, contributing to the audience’s captivation.
The lyrics often focus on spiritual and religious themes, such as love and devotion to God, the teachings of Islamic mysticism, and the significance of faith and spirituality in one’s life. The stories told through Qawwali are based on historical events, religious teachings, or personal experiences.
For example, some Qawwali songs tell the story of famous Sufi saints, such as Nizamuddin Auliya and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, and their teachings. Other songs express the concept of divine love and the yearning for spiritual union with God. Some compositions also use poetry from famous poets, such as Rumi and Hafiz.
Qawwali is sometimes also used as a means of social commentary, addressing contemporary issues such as poverty, social inequality, and political corruption. For instance, Pakistani Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s song “Allah Hoo” has been used as a symbol of peace and unity in various international events.
In addition to the performance, Qawwali is often accompanied by other forms of visual arts that enhance the spiritual and devotional experience of the music. Calligraphy is one of the most important visual arts in Qawwali. It is used to write verses from the Quran or other Islamic texts beautifully and artistically. The calligraphy is displayed on banners or scrolls, gaining the audience’s attention on the message of the music.
Dance is another essential component of Qawwali. The performers often incorporate traditional dance moves into the performance. It is often accompanied by colourful costumes that enhance the visual experience for the audience.
One can often see a similarity between the style of Qawalli with another mystic genre: Bhajans, which originated in north India. Both of these art forms focus on spiritual themes and devotion to a higher power. However, the specific content of their lyrics is often different. Instruments used in Bhajans, like harmonium, tabla, and dhol, have now become synonymous with Qawalli performance and are an example of cross-religion musical exchange.
Some of India’s most famous Qawwali performance venues include the Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan, and the Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer.
An example of Western appreciation and acceptance of Qawalli as mainstream popular music came when Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, one of the most prominent Qawwali musicians, collaborated with several Western artists, including Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, Michael Brook, and Peter Gabriel. His collaboration with Peter Gabriel resulted in an album titled “Passion,” which was the soundtrack for Martin Scorsese’s film “The Last Temptation of Christ.”
Today, qawwali is still an essential component of South Asian cultural traditions and a phenomenon that unites people from diverse backgrounds through music.