Sayedul Islam; [Performer]

Unknown (Music); [Author]

Qawali songs

Music

Music (MUS)

Music

Nobi hamara Muhammad (Our prophet Muhammad) is a Qawali song, performed in the Rohingya camps for the RCMC by Rohingya musician Sayedul Islam.

Qawali is a spiritual song genre which is widely popular in Rohingya culture. To entertain guests at Rohingya weddings, Qawali groups are invited. No musical instrument is usually used in these performances, so maulavis (religious preachers) and madrassa (religious school) students practice Qawali. Qawali songs can be performed individually, or in groups. Many a time’s two Qawali groups are invited encouraging friendly rivalry between them. It gets more interesting in weddings as the bride and the groom are assigned with a group each. Sarcastic exchanges take place between them. If groom’s group praises him, the bride’s group brings up his faults slightly. However, appeasing the groom is at the heart of the whole performance. Instead of musical instruments, pillows, pitchers, claps are used to create an ambience. It is deemed customary to arrange Qawwali performance for the whole night of the wedding, while the affluent opt for both the pre-wedding and wedding night performances.