2009 Articles

Qawwālī and Home:  ʿAlī in (Im)migrant Identity

Rashid, Hussein

Although  ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib (600-661 CE) is generally treated as an important political figure in Islamic history and as an important theological figure amongst Ṣūfī and Shīʿah groups, he also plays an important cultural role. In South Asia, the qawwālī is an important part of the Chishtī samāʿ , or spiritual concert. Since the Chishtiyya trace their spiritual lineage through  ʿAlī, many of the lyrics focus on his chivalry and heroism. As the qawwālī becomes an important cultural art form, crossing religious boundaries, the figure of  ʿAlī is interpreted in new contexts. South Asians in diaspora use him to discuss issues of belonging in a new host society. These diasporic artists create new hybrid art forms to reflect unequal power relationships and draw on rich lyrical and musical traditions of social protest. Specifically, groups like Fun^Da^Mental and The Dub Factory are integrating qawwālī , hip-hop, reggae, rock, and electronica to alter the soundscape of the UK.