WOMAD 1985: The Breakthrough
In the summer of 1985, Nusrat performed at the World Music Arts and Dance Festival (WOMAD) in London, where he stood out as the most promising singer. After the success of that summer, he began to perform his music without regard to genre or tradition.
His various experimentations—such as the use of scat-like singing improvisation—brought a fresh breeze into the traditional world of qawwali. This new openness led to the popularization of Sufi music across both geographical and musical boundaries.
Conquering Europe
His concerts in Paris in 1985 and 1988 were received with tremendous enthusiasm. His amazing vocal performances produced a craze for his music throughout Europe.
Japan and Beyond
His first visit to Japan took place in 1987, at the invitation of the Japan Foundation. His participation in seminars and performances at the 5th Asian Traditional Performing Arts Festival earned him a steadily increasing number of fans in the country.
He released several CDs in Japan and performed in numerous successful large-scale concerts around the world.
Real World Records
Perhaps the most significant partnership was with Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records, where Nusrat recorded some of his most celebrated albums:
- Mustt Mustt (1990) — With producer Michael Brook
- Night Song (1996) — Another collaboration with Michael Brook
- The Last Prophet (1994)
- Devotional Songs (1992)
Cultural Bridge
Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s accomplishments contributed both to the succession and advancement of the qawwali tradition, and to the popularization of South Asia’s outstanding traditional music culture around the world.
Moreover, he brought innovation into the sphere of qawwali by taking advantage of his artistic gifts and flexibility to transcend the rules imposed by tradition.
These achievements, taken together, had an immeasurable impact on cultural exchange between the East and the West, led to the enhancement of both cultures, and made Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan particularly worthy of receiving the Arts and Culture Prize of the Fukuoka Asian Cultural Prizes.
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