Fanna-Fi-Allah celebrate Qawwali through powerful performance

LONDON: American Qawwali band Fanna-Fi-Allah performed to a packed house at the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) to celebrate the sufi traditions of Islam and to support a charity that supports children affected by conflicts in the world, War Child.

The Qawwali concert was organized by student volunteers from Insaan Culture Club, a project that was conceived by British Pakistani activist and writer Yasmin Whittaker-Khan with the desire to combine a celebration of South Asian culture in London with a championing of progressive causes.

She said that it was important to reclaim the space that has been lost to the forces of cultural conservatism and extremism. She said Qawwali music has been a source of inspiration and compassion and the best part is this amazing tradition traces its routes mainly in Pakistan and India. “That’s part of our culture and heritage, we should be proud of that.”

Yasmin Whittaker-Khan said that she had organized the concert to celebrate equality and inclusion promoted through Sufi ideals in ever changing socio-political landscapes.

Those who attended the concert included members from diverse communities who had come from all over the UK. Fanna-Fi-Allah performed for two hours, supported by Sufi Kathak dancers, and members of the audience who danced and clapped throughout the rendition of Qawwali.

Speaking to The News, the band members said they have made it their mission to spread the message of peace, devotion to spirituality and love. They said that the Qawwali music creates connection with the people of every race and religion because it’s the kind of music that touches the deepest corners of soul and creates connectivity beyond divisions.

They said that their experience of travelling in Pakistan in search of divinity has been amazing. “We have been going to Pakistan to learn about Qawwali music and to soak up the rich culture.”

Fanna-Fi-Allah band has been making waves with their Qawali renditions in a unique way after getting training from some of the greatest masters of qawwali from India and Pakistan. The group members, originally from the American state of Chicago, converted to Islam after being impressed by the spiritual message of Islam. They have played qawwali at Data Ganj Baksh (Lahore), Baba Ganj-e-Shakar (Pak Pattan), Baba Bulleh Shah (Kasoor), Baba Lasuri Shah (Faislabad) and in India at the tombs of Khwaje Nizzam-Ud-Deen Aulia, Hazrat Amir Khusrau, Pir Inayat Khan (Delhi), Khwaje Mueen-Ud-Deen Chishty (Ajmer). They have also enthralled audiences in the USA, Pakistan, Europe, Indonesia, India, Egypt, and others places. The band started Qawwali music in 2001 and since then haven’t looked back.

By embracing a new language and musical concepts as well as instruments through sheer determination and dedication they have proved to be of a high standard.

The band members are: Lead Vocal, Harmonium / Tahir Qawwal; Tabla / Amina Chishty; Vocal, clapping/ Laali Qalandar; Vocal, harmonium/ Jahangir Baba; Vocal, clapping/ Salim Chishty; Vocal, clapping/ Abrar Hussain; Vocal, clapping/ Ali Shan.