Qawwali: Music of the soul - a podcast by BBC World Service

Raees Khan explores the history, influence and enduring legacy of Qawwali music, both within, as well as outside of the Islamic World.

From its earliest origins in the writings of Sufi Saints, to its spread throughout South Asia we look at how the mystical and devotional artform spread throughout the Indian Sub-continent and attracted millions to the religion of Islam.

A deeply personal journey, Raees reminisces about his first introduction to Qawwali as a young boy and how the captivating voice of one man, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, changed him forever.

Along the way, we meet Tahir Qawaal, the lead vocalist in an all-Caucasian Qawwali group who spent years in Pakistan and India learning from the true masters. Tahseen Sakina explains how she feels she has been accepted as one of the only female qawaals and Abi Sampa, Rushil and Amrit Dhuffer, the members of The Orchestral Qawwali Project, tell us about introducing qawwali to a whole new audience.

Presenter: Raees Khan
Producer: Talat-Farooq Awan
Executive Producer: Rajeev Gupta

(Photo: Group Fana Fi Allah and their lead singer Tahir Qawwal performing. Credit: Tahir Qawwal)

Further episodes of Heart and Soul

Further podcasts by BBC World Service

Website of BBC World Service