Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwali (Friday)

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwals are masters of Qawwali Sufi music. They represent the twenty-sixth generation of original thirteenth-century Qawwals, connected to Hazrat Amir Khusrow, a poet, philosopher and musician, who invented the art of Qawwali.

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammad Qawwal are direct descendants of Miyan Saamat Bin Ibrahim and received rigorous training in classical music and qawwali from their father, Ustad Munshi Raziuddin, who was also a legendary qawwal. Fareed Ayaz now leads the group, along with his younger brother Abu Muhammad. Their trained sons join them, making up the rest of the musical core of the ensemble.

Their performances are known for their intense passion, profound spiritual depth, and the intricate interplay of vocals and rhythm. Weaving together devotional and secular traditions, the group also performs semi-classical forms including tarana, thumri, and khayal.

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwals have been bringing South Asian Qawwali to international audiences for over 40 years. Their music has been featured in the 2012 film The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and in 2017 they were the focus of a special BBC Proms concert. The group has performed many times in Pakistan’s Coke Studio. Their performances of “Kangna” in season 4 and “Piya Ghar Aaya” in season 11 have received record viewing worldwide.

Additional Information:

PARKING

Free and metered street parking is available nearby. The closest parking garage is 2101 S Michigan Ave Self Park Garage. Due to Soldier Field street parking closures, parking may be limited. We highly recommend using SpotHero for available spots within a few blocks' distance. The parking lot next door at 1927 S Michigan is not the property of South Asia Institute. However, they do offer SpotHero parking, so please check on the app or online.

We recommend taking public transport options. The nearest “L” stations are Cermak-McCormick Place (Green Line) and Cermak-Chinatown (Red Line). The nearest bus stop is Michigan Ave and Cullerton Street; bus routes 1, 3, and 4 stop there.

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• By attending this event, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken for archival, promotional, and educational purposes. If you have concerns about appearing in documentation, please speak with event staff upon arrival or email info@saichicago.org
• All ticket sales are final unless otherwise stated.
• Attendees participate voluntarily and are responsible for their own well-being and personal belongings during the event

ACCESSIBILITY

South Asia Institute is wheelchair accessible.

The main entrance is at street level, and an elevator provides access to all floors. An accessible, single-user/all-gender restroom is located on the main floor.

For accessibility questions or accommodations, contact: info@saichicago.org