Pakistan is a land of cultural diversity – where people are hospitable, loving and have great appetite for music and entertainment. Brought over from the four corners of this land of the pure are the renowned artistes presented hereunder, who will entertain the lovers of poetry, art and culture with their performances depicting the colourful cultures of Pakistan.

FOLK ARTISTES

SAGHIR AHMAD

A well-known Dhol player from lush green planes of the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Saghir Ahmad was born in 1969 in a small village of Rariala Biram of the township of Jhelum in Punjab from an ancient family of musicians. He started learning the art from his father Bashir Ahmad at the tender age of 7 years. His first public debut was at the age of 12 during an urs at the shrine.

He has already represented Pakistan in Holland and China in 1999. In 2004, he was chosen to perform at Harvard University, USA as part of a Seminar entitled, "Musical Practice, Musical Theory". He has already been nominated for high national awards.

DHOL

Generally similar in size, shape and construction with some variations throughout the country, the dhol is a double-headed outdoor drum played with a pair of wooden sticks. The skin for both heads has been prepared in this manner, the membrane is tightened by running a stout cotton rope between the two switches on each side all over the body of the drum. The skin on the right hand side is plastered from the inside with a mixture to raise the pitch. This mixture consists of finely ground and sifted black clinker from brick kilns bonded with high gluten wheat flour to prevent it from flaking or falling off. The sound of the dhol is loud and deep and is usually accompanied by the chimta. It is used to call village folk together for important announcements, dances and all festive occasions.

AKHTAR CHANAL ZEHRI

Akhtar Chanal is a well-known folk artist of Pakistan. He belongs to Zehri tribe of Balochistan province. He learnt folk singing & legends from his forefathers who were shepherds by profession. Akhtar Chanal has been performing in various festivals & fairs held across the country. He has appeared several times on national television. He has also traveled abroad and performed to an array of international audience. He sings with Dhamboora.

BUSHRA MARVI

Famous folk singer, Bushra Marvi belongs to Sindh, is one of such singers, who have got fame and respect from their fans and people have accepted them as a role model for themselves, as she has won a number of precious awards through her excellent performance on all the music forums. She sings with Ektara.

Like others, Bushra Marvi too had that sensitive melodious touch to her voice that helped her make her presence felt in the music industry.

VEEHO MAL

Veeho Mal, the legendary alghoza player from Sindh. He played the traditional folk tunes He even took this instrumental music out of Pakistan was well received by international audiences.

ALGHOZA

Blow instrument of Sindh, two flutes played together also called Beenu. This instrument consists of a pair of flutes nearly of the same length and width. One flue is used for a continuous drone while the other is played to produce a melody. The Alghoza also has six holes for the tonal achievement

EJAZ SARHADI

Ejaz Sarhadi from newly named Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, formerly NWFP Province of Pakistan. He plays Sarinda. Ejaz Sarhadi is a son of great Sarinda player, Munir Sarhadi, the best sarinda player ever born. He has performed in many countries.

SARINDA

A stringed instrument of the Pukhtun region with a hollow wooden body made from a single block of mulberry wood. Seven to nine steel and copper strings are tensioned over the finger board. The sarinda is played with a horsehair bow (Kaman) coated with resin. It is very similar to the folk instruments of Balochistan (suroz) and Sind (khamach). The sarinda played by the late great folk instrumentalist Munir Sarhadi is an innovation of his father Ustad Pazir Khan, who is in living memory the best sarinda player ever born.

LOCAL ARTISTES

RAJA KAASHEFF

Raja Kaasheff, a second generation of Briton of Pakistani descent, is an outstanding voice on the UK music scene. Since 2001, Kaasheff’s dedication to singing and music composing has established him as an avant-garde singer and music composer in the United Kingdom and the sub-continent. Among UK-based Asian musicians, he has the credit of creating quality compositions, often in collaboration with the living music and film legends of Asia.

As a traditionalist but versatile in the choice of genres, he has been able, in an age of pop and bhangra, to keep alive the taste for original melodies of the sub-continent. Raja Kaasheff has successfully experimented with all Asian singing styles including popular music, qawali, contemporary, semi-classical and classical. He has released a number of melodious music albums: Pyar Kar Le, Yaar Tera Sharmana, Haseen Raatein, and My Dearest Maa.

The recent album dedicated to the most sincere relationship of ‘Mother’ was the first music album ever launched in the UK Parliament (House of Commons). Pakistan’s most popular TV Channel GEO TV launched his music album on the eve of Mother’s Day in Pakistan in May 2009.

He has brought music in the service of various humanitarian causes by working with reputable philanthropic individuals and organisations to raise funds for various humanitarian and noble causes.