Fanna-Fi-Allah Qawwali Party

Fanna-Fi-Allah: Annihilation into Allah. Qawwali is an ancient practice where in the fire of divine love (ishq) is ecstatically expressed through the mystical verses of Sufi poets, sung in Urdu, Farsi, Hindi and Punjabi. The origins of Qawwali music date back over seven hundred years to the spiritual Samah songs of Persia. Qawwali's pationate devotional themes of love are devinely inspired by a mystical relationship with Allah. The foremost expression in this music is through the voice, accompanied by two harmoniums, booming Pakistani tablas, hand clapping and the tampura.
It is traditionally performed in Sufi shrines where the audience participation is integral to the
prayerful yet ecstatic atmosphere.

Tahir Qawwal and Amena Chisty Qawwal, who are infinitely blessed to be the foremost disciples of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the greatest Qawwali master of Pakistan and only nephew-successor of the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Dildar Hussein, world renowned tabla master from the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwali party, lead the Fanna-Fi-Allah Qawwali party consisting of five to ten rigorously trained musicians. This young Qawwali party wishes to bring forth, from out of the Sufi shrines, the blessing of this ancient practice of devotion and love through music and dance to all. Fanna-Fi-Allah has been greatly honoured to play at such sacred sufi shries in Pakistan such as the beloved tombs of :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), and many more mystic sites.

Fanna-Fi-Allah has only begun performing outside of Pakistan, India and Hawaii since the summer of 2004, and have become well known throughout the west coast after playing numerous private concerts and appearing at venues such as Earthdance, Dancing Dragons Festival, Oregon Country Fair, The Auburn Sacred Arts Fair, Broadcasting live on KPFA.  They have also performed at numerous benefit concerts such as M.E.C.A. (Middle Eastern Children’s Alliance) dance party benefit, and many more.  The party will often incorporate: trained dancers, performance of Sufi tales, translations of the songs, teaching about classical ragas, and the art of this ancient practice, according to the setting and audience.

“I was in tears for over 2 hours…the vocal mastery and heartfelt devotion are compelling. More than a “good” time, these young players move me to a greater sense of the mystery within” –Koda Sun (respected elder of the Earthome community)

References:   Jai Uttal, Zakir Hussein, Daniel Paul, Jah Levi, Tina Malia, M.J. of Hamsa Lila, Ammaji, Rizzwam and Muazzum Qawwali, Shahbaz, Terry Riley, and Shabda Khan, leader of American Sufi Community. 

For Questions and responses email us or call: (510) 292-8388