1250-1299Indian subcontinent / Pakistan

Qawwali

Also known as Kawwali

A devotional South Asian genre built from praise, repetition, and group intensity, qawwali moved from shrine-centered performance into a global listening culture through major artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Sabri Brothers, and Abida Parveen.

Origins and context

Documented as a South Asian Sufi devotional tradition, with roots often placed in the late 13th century and later strong associations with Pakistan and North India.

Indian subcontinentPakistanIndia

The sound

Instrument palette

The voices and tools most associated with this sound.

Harmonium
Tabla
Handclaps

History

Qawwali took shape in the late 13th century in the Indian subcontinent and is closely tied to Sufi devotional practice. A commonly cited historical thread connects its development to Amir Khusrau, though the genre’s exact beginnings are filtered through long oral tradition rather than a single neat origin story. By the 20th century, qawwali had become widely associated with Pakistan and North India, and artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the Sabri Brothers helped carry it far beyond shrine settings and devotional gatherings. Modern platform bios and genre overviews consistently describe it as Sufi devotional music with deep roots and a distinctive performance energy.

Notable artists