Fanna-Fi-Allah Qawwali Party

Fanna-Fi-Allah is a Californian Qawwali party led by Tahir Qawwali. If you were moved by the efforts and inspirations of the awesome Brooklyn Qawwal Party then be ready for yet another surprise from west, this time with more Qawwali.

The aspiration of Fanna-Fi-Allah is to bring the magic of Pakistani Qawwali to the west in it’s traditional form, inherited directly from the grand masters. The group has been deeply involved within Pakistan & India, spending plenty of study time with Pakistan’s present day Qawwali greats, as well as performing regularly in the important sufi shrines & festivals (since 2001). They have been blessed to play qawwali at the beloved tombs of Data Ganj Baksh (Lahore), Baba Ganj-e-Shakar (Pak Pattan), Baba Bulleh Shah (Kasoor), Baba Lasuri Shah (Faislabad) and in India at the tombs of Khwaje Nizzam-Ud-Deen Aulia, Hazrat Amir Khusrau, Pir Inayat Khan (Delhi), Khwaje Mueen-Ud-Deen Chishty (Ajmer).

Tahir Qawwal, leader of Fanna-fi-allah.

Tahir Qawwal studies under vocal masters Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pashupati Nath Mishra, Sher Ali Khan, Muazzum Qawwal. He has honed his amazing harmonium skills with Rahat Ali, first student of Ustad Faruk Fateh Ali Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s first harmonium player and brother. Tahir teaches vocal music  & harmonium within the traditional raaga system of India & Pakistan.
He is the leader of Fanna-fi-allah.

Aminah Chishty Qawwal has been a leading force in the art of Pakistani tabla. Student of   Ustad Dildar Hussain Khan (who performed with the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for 30 years), she was formally initiated by her teacher in 2003. Aminah  has changed the boundaries of women in Pakistan by being given permission to perform at the tombs of Pakistan’s great muslim saints (where women are usually not allowed to enter). She is a powerful player and passionate lover of qawwali.

Devananda’ Laali’ has been an integral part of the group since 2001. Based in Hawaii, he performs in the USA and has travelled with the group to Pakistan and India. He is a passionate and talented vocalist.
Arjun Baba is a well known and much loved kirtan singer, performing throughout Europe and the USA, & having recorded 6 volumes of kirtan/bhajan cds.  He is also involved in a number of original music projects. He has also been with the group since 2001.

Pascal Hudon is a greater lover of Indian & Pakistani music. He has travelled with the group to Pakistan to participate in the Urs festivals, and travels each year to India to study classical music in Varanasi and in Bhopal with famous Drupad singers ‘The Gundecha Brothers’. He also studies Oud (a middle eastern instrument) in Egypt. He shares his love of music by hosting events in the USA.

Andre Preece is the newest addition to the group as support vocalist & clapper. He has travelled in India and Pakistan, following his love of the culture, people & music.

Fanna-Fi-Allah Qawwali Party performing in Summer 2008