The Saami Brothers return to South Asia Institute for a revitalizing evening of qawwali performance on Saturday, April 25.
About the Saami Brothers
The Saami Brothers come from a lineage of musicians —the Qawwal Bacchon Ka Gharana, or Dilli Gharana— spanning over 800 years. They are the sons and disciples of the critically acclaimed maestro Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, and are considered contemporary custodians of the centuries-old musical lineage. Alongside highly-skilled qawwali performance, the Saami Brothers are renowned for their skill in the khayal genre, alongside its preservation and performance of the rare and demanding Surti scale, a hallmark of their family tradition.
Qawwali Music
A centuries old musical tradition, qawwali is devotional music with roots in Sufism in South Asia, particularly Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The word qawwali originates from the Arabic qaul (“to speak” or “to say”). Expanding beyond its origins, qawwali may also be enjoyed as a secular practice.