Fans of Qawwali music are in for a treat when one of the foremost exponents of this art form, Chand Qaderi Afzal Chishti, visits Cape Town. He and his party will perform at the Grace Arena in Parow on April 16 at 8.30pm.
Qawwali dates back almost 700 years. But the style which we are used to today was created by a saint from Delhi, Amir Khusrao Dehlavi, of the Chisthi Order of Sufis. Khusrao fused Persian, Arabic, Turkish and Indian musical traditions in the late 13th century to create the type of Qawwali still enjoyed.
Over the years, singers from Pakistan have reigned supreme, with names like the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the late Sabri Brothers taking the world by storm and popularising this ancient art form. Indian singers who held their own include the late Jani Babu and Qalander Azad. These artistes have visited the Mother City and have many fans here.
Currently it is Chand, who numbers many South Africans among his fans, who is considered the top performer of the Indian style of Qawwali singing.
He has performed throughout the world to audiences of more than 10000 people at times.
Siraj Jainoodien of Top Rank Promotions says: “What really makes him unique is his versatility. He is equally at home performing at a private gathering, at a religious shrine or in a concert setting at an auditorium.
"He is able to read and judge his audience very quickly and then creates his programme accordingly so that everyone enjoys his performance.”
Chand is adept at performing traditional religious-infused Qawwali as well as the Sufi-based romantically inspired ghazals.
A huge compliment was paid recently by Chand to Cape Town singer Nuur Leeman when Leeman was asked to perform on the bill.
Chand was shown footage of Leeman performing and was impressed by his vocal range.
His ability not only to sing the intricate Qawwali songs of legendary artists, but to add his own unique touch really amazed Chand, who immediately agreed to have Leeman perform on the show.
It promises to be a night of gems for the Qawwali connoisseur and locals should attend and support one of their own sharing the stage with an iconic international artist.
* Tickets are available at A1 CD and DVD Centre, Ruth Road, Rylands Estate, or call 0839927714.