Attend a Sufi performance by a qawwali band comprising of westerners

A band made up of almost only American and Canadian citizens singing qawwali is as rare as a sitar featuring in a heavy metal band's line-up of instruments. But Fanna Fi Allah is a US-based act that is purportedly the only non-Asian ensemble devoted to spreading the message of Sufism in the West. And the outfit will bring its soulful renditions of traditional Sufi music to a SoBo venue this evening.

Tahir Hussain Faridi Qawwal formed the group with Aminah Chishty in 2001. The former is a Canadian citizen who was hooked to Islamic teachings at an early age. That led him to spending many of his teenage years in India, living as a dervish in the Himalayas, before travelling to Pakistan to learn the traditions of qawwali from legends such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. Chishty, an American, has spent a considerable amount of time in Pakistan too and, in fact, is the first female tabla player in the history of classical music in that country.

The outfit has performed at various concerts across the world, from America to Australia. But India is admittedly a country close to its heart and given that association, the Mumbai audience is in for a spiritual connect at the concert.

ON: Tonight, 6.30 pm
AT: The Royal Opera House, Girgaum. LOG ON TO insider.in
ENTRY: Rs 300 to Rs 499

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