An Anthropological Study on Qawwals and Qawwali Performance in Islamabad

Abstract

This research was conducted on the topic of “An Anthropological Study on Qawwals and Qawwali Performance in Islamabad”. This study is explanatory that explains Qawwals life and Qawwali performance with detail in Islamabad, Pakistan. This research carries three main objectives that explain about varieties in Qawwal’s gharana, to know about the message of Qawwali, kinds of Qawwali, arrangements of Qawwali and covers about what is Sama and its importance. It narrates the expectations of Qawwals about the future of Qawwali. It covers the lifeworld of Qawwals and it also finds out the impact of the current pandemic COVID-19 impact on the earning of Qawwals. This research carries sampling techniques, purposive-snow ball sampling. An in-depth interview method and telephonic interviews have been conducted. Semi-structured interview guide has been used. This study has been conducted on fifteen Qawwals from multiple locations of Islamabad includes Pakistan National Council of Arts, Lok Virsa, Bari Imam, and Kalyam Sharif. The researcher analyzed the data by using the thematic analysis method. It is analyzed by the researcher that gharana is very important for a Qawwal. Without gharana there is no better Qawwal. And everything including message, arrangements, lifeworld collecting, and distribution of Qawwals depends on their gharana. Qawwali was a ritual and purely related to the religion Islam. The researcher also discusses here the change which came in today’s Qawwali due to modernization or globalization. So now the basic Islamic essence of Qawwali has been changed. Now Qawwali is divided into different types so its message also has been changed. Qawwals only earn from Qawwali, they have no other alternative to earn. Now the Qawwali often takes place on shrines. The only purpose of Qawwali now becomes is lifeworld.