Le Guess Who? Festival Stories
Le Guess Who? is a Celebration of Sound in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The festival is dedicated to boundary-crossing music & culture from all over the world.
Le Guess Who? Festival Stories
Renowned Pakistani qawwali singer Faiz Ali Faiz by Arooj Aftab
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Le Guess Who?
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Season 4
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Episode 3
Having been born to seven consecutive generations of qawwals (those who perform the ancient form of religious Sufi music from Pakistan and Northern India - Punjab - known as qawwali), Faiz Ali Faiz was raised on the practice.
After having performed at Le Guess Who? in 2021, we asked Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab, whose work is inspired by Sufi poets and musicians that came before her, to interview Faiz Ali Faiz. They talked about his background story, what music means to him, and about pushing the boundaries of what qawwali can be.
Words & audio by Arooj Aftab
Photography by Lucien Lung