Voices of Soul with Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brothers in Harrisburg presents an unforgettable evening of qawwali. Hamza Akram Qawwal and his Brothers represent the twenty-seventh generation of original thirteenth-century Qawwals, connecting them to Hazrat Amir Khusrow, a poet, philosopher and musician, who invented the art of Qawwali. Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brothers are trained under the patronage of their grandfather Ustad Munshi Raziuddin and their uncles Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwals.

Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brothers are celebrated for their ability to blend traditional qawwali with contemporary influences have captivated audiences worldwide. Known for their dynamic performances and soulful renditions of legendry Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan most epic qawwalis like Halka Halka Suroor and Kali Kali Zulfay sharing and celebrating the spiritual and poetic essence of qawwali music. Their vibrant and powerful voices will fill the Rose Lehrman Theater, creating an atmosphere of spiritual ecstasy and cultural celebration.

Our event is supported by these valued local partners:

Dr. Aziz A. Majid
Lahori Kabab Grill Restaurant - Harrisburg, PA
Drs. Nirmal and Renu Joshi
Titan Hotel Company - Harrisburg, PA
The AMZN Group - Enola, PA
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Our event's objectives are:

To enable our community to experience a unique musical art form from the Indian subcontinent performed by professional artists
To transcend cultural boundaries and resonate with listeners on a profound spiritual and emotional level
To foster community engagement through music and the arts

What is Qawwali:
Deriving its name from the Arabic word “Qaul”, meaning "to speak," qawwali is a musical vehicle by which a group of musicians—called Qawwals—delivers inspirational messages to devotees.

Qawwali is a form of devotional music seeking to transport musicians and audience closer to the divine. This traditional music works its way to ecstatic peaks with powerful vocal performance, rhythmic hand claps, and the use of traditional musical instruments like the harmonium, the dholak and tabla. Qawwali repertoire are sung in Persian, Urdu, and Hindi by the lead singer and chorus playing in a call-and-response style.

Origin of Qawwali:
Qawwali has deep roots in South Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan. It is believed to have originated in the 13th century, brought to the Indian subcontinent by Sufi saints. The most prominent figure associated with the introduction and development of qawwali is Amir Khusrow, a disciple of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya. Khusrow, a poet, musician, and scholar, is credited with fusing Persian, Turkish, Arabic, and Indian musical traditions to create the unique form of qawwali.

Khusrow defined, documented and established the Khusravi tradition of Qawwali, and trained twelve young men — the Qawwal Bachay — in the theory and practice of Khusravi Qawwali. Miyan Saamat Bin Ibrahim was the leader of this first group of Qawwals. The tradition established by Khusrow has been preserved for more than eight centuries by scions of the Qawwal Bachay and is followed by Qawwals all over the world today.

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For Sponsorship, please contact at: qawwali.sufi@gmail.com