Author Description

Sindh--the southernmost province of Pakistan--has a distinctive character of its own, setting it apart from other areas of the Islamic world. Nowhere else has Sufism gained such a stronghold. Shrines of Sufi saints are scattered all over the country, and still countless pilgrims flock to them. The cultural landscape of Sindh, however, is reaching far beyond the borders of the present province. Having been the cradle of many civilizations, some so old that we still lack any precise knowledge about them, the valley still provides the geographical and cultural backbone to a young country which displays a spectacular mix of cultures.The Saints and Singers of Pakistan tell the story of the travels and adventures of the human soul in a myriad different ways, so that it may not be out of place to call it Pakistan's soul music. Whereas Qawwali, the most popular genre, made a spectacular entrance into the world music arena, most of the other manifold-and often equally interesting-expressions of Sufi music are still very little known by the western audience.