Fanna-Fi-Allah Explained

Fanna-Fi-Allah
Origin:	Canada United States
Years Active:	1996–present
Current Members:	Tahir Faridi Qawwal Aminah Chishti Qawwal Laali Qalandar Salim Chishti Ali Shan Abrar Hussain

Fanna-Fi-Allah (Urdu: فنا فی الله) is a Canadian–American group which plays Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Origins

Group leader Tahir Faridi Qawwal (formerly Geoffrey Lyons),^{[4] [5]} originally from Nova Scotia,^[6] studied Indian classical music with the tabla maestro Harjeet Seyan Singh in India as a teenager. At 17, he converted to Islam and studied under qawwali masters Rahet Fateh Ali Khan, Pashupatinath Mishra, Sher Ali Khan and Muazzam Mujahid Ali Khan in Pakistan.^[7]

Aminah Chishti — aka Jessica Ripper, originally from Ashland, Oregon^[8] — is a student of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan successor of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ustad Dildar Hussain (who played with Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for more than 28 years) and in 2003 became the first female tabla player to be initiated into the lineage of Qawwali.^{[9] [10]}

Qawwal and Chishti started Fanna-Fi-Allah Sufi Qawwali Ensemble in 2001.^[11]

Members

• Tahir Faridi Qawwal – Vocals, Harmonium, Tabla
• Aminah Chishti Qawwal – Tabla, Vocals
• Laali Qalandar – Vocals, Clapping
• Salim Chishti – Vocals, Clapping
• Ali Shan – Vocals, Clapping
• Jahangir Baba – Harmonium, Vocals
• Abrar Hussain – Tabla, Vocals, Clapping
• Aziz Abbatiello – Whirling

Discography

• Fanna-Fi-Allah (2018) Muraqaba (Released by Buda Musique France Recorded at Woodshed Studios Malibu courtesy of Chris Martin (Cold Play))
• Fanna-Fi-Allah (2017) – Live @ Great American Music Hall (Vinyl)
• Fanna-Fi-Allah Sufi Qawwali (2015)
• Fanna_Fi-Allah Sufi Qawwali tracks:
  • Man Kunto Maula (2014)
  • Mehfil-e-Sama Vol. 3 (2014)
  • Naubat Nagare (2013)
  • Ya Mustafa Nur-Ul-Khuda (2012)
• Fanna-Fi-Allah Sufi Qawwali Party
  • Mehfil-e-Sama Vol. 2 (2012)
  • Damahama Dam Ali Ali (2011)
  • Mehfil-e-Sama Vol. 1 (2008)
  • Baba Farid (2007)
  • Annihilation Into the Infinite (2005)
• Rizwan Muazzam
  • Amad (2014)
  • Araj Sun Li Jo Mori (2014)
  • Sufi Sama (2007)
• Rizwan Muazzam Qawwali
  • Karlo Ganj-e-Shakar (2011)
• Sher Ali Mehr Ali
  • Hamare Khwaja (2013)
• Tahir Qawwal
  • Alif Allah, Pt. 1 (2013)
  • Alif Allah, Pt. 2 (2013)
  • Alif Allah, Pt. 3 (2013)
  • Bhairavi Thumri (Ras Ke Bare Tore Nain) (2013)
• Temple Step
  • Alif Allah (Remix) (2014)
• Various Artists
  • Dayar-e-Ishq: Abode of Divine Love (2013)^[12]

External links

• • Biography on Fanna-Fi-Allah.com
• Fanna-Fi-Allah on AllMusic

Notes and References

1. Web site: Group. Sufi Qawwali. Fanna-Fi-Allah. SonicBids. October 2, 2016.
2. Web site: Fanna-fi-Allah Sufi Qawwali Party. WORLD MUSIC SERIES. Showcase Performance. Agha Khan Museum. October 2, 2016.
3. News: Tahir Qawwal: The Canadian who dedicates his life to Sufi music. The National. October 6, 2015. April 17, 2017. Sarah. Malik.
4. News: Faridi. Tahir Hussain. The dreadlocked darvesh. October 2, 2016. Jung News Group Pakistan. News. DAWN. December 15, 2013.
5. Web site: Qawwal. Tahir. Official Website of Tahir Qawwal. Official Website of Tahir Qawwal. Tahir Qawal. October 2, 2016.
6. Web site: Qawwal. Tahir. The Canadian who dedicates his life to Sufi music. The National-Arts & Life. Sarah Malik. October 2, 2016.
7. Web site: Qawal. Tahir. Annihilation into the Infinite, into Allah. FANNA-FI ALLAH. October 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161107015113/http://www.fanna-fi-allah.com/about-qawwali-ffa. November 7, 2016. dead.
8. Web site: July 21, 2012. Famous Grizzlies. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210323093306/https://ashlandtidings.com/news/education/famous-grizzlies. March 23, 2021. March 23, 2021. Ashland Tidings.
9. News: First woman tabla player breaks social barriers – The Express Tribune. December 5, 2013. The Express Tribune. December 23, 2017. en-US.
10. News: Fanna-Fi-Allah: On a spiritual note – The Express Tribune. December 4, 2014. The Express Tribune. December 23, 2017. en-US.
11. Web site: Divine. The Rhythm. A spiritual search that led to qawwali. Abc.net.au. June 24, 2016 . Geoff Wood. October 2, 2016.
12. Web site: Qawwal. Tahir Farid. Dayar e Ishq. insight timer. insighttimer.com. October 2, 2016.