Summit strengthens Birmingham’s claim as UK home of Qawwali music

Birmingham reinforced its position as Britain’s hub for Qawwali music by hosting a landmark Qawwali Music Conference & Roundtable at the Council House.

Delivered by SAYARTS.COM CIC in partnership with the Cabinet Member for Digital ,Culture, Heritage and Tourism  Cllr Saima Suleman, the event gathered civic leaders, cultural institutions, funders, diplomats and artists to shape the future of Qawwali in Birmingham and across Europe.

Attendees included the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, and senior representatives from CBSO, B:Music, The Rep, Birmingham Hippodrome, Midlands Arts Centre, Arts Council England, Culture Central, Culture Forward, the West Midlands Combined Authority, EQUI, as well as Birmingham councillors and international consulates.

Councillor Saima Suleman, Cabinet Member for Digital, Culture, Heritage and Tourism at Birmingham City Council, said: “This conference showed what Birmingham does best, bringing people together and celebrating our cultural richness.

“Qawwali is a great part of our city’s heritage and the energy in the room made it clear that Birmingham is the natural home of Qawwali in the UK.”

The conference opened with a keynote by Abid Iqbal of SAYARTS.COM CIC, tracing Qawwali’s evolution from Sufi shrines to UK concert halls and highlighting Birmingham’s pivotal role in that journey.

A curated film sequence featuring archival shrine footage, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and contemporary festivals created a powerful opening narrative.

Breakout groups proposed a Qawwali Heritage Showcase, a Qawwali in Schools programme, a Youth Qawwali Ensemble, and a Digital Qawwali Showcase, emphasising authenticity, innovation and cross-genre collaboration.

Abid said: “This is the beginning of a new era for Qawwali in Britain. Birmingham is ready to lead nationally and internationally.

“I have spent 22 years working on the revival of Qawwali, collaborating with 15 international Qawwali acts, four of whom are among the top in the world, and it is clear that this city is where the future of the artform belongs.”

Plans are now underway for a mini Qawwali Festival in 2026, followed by a major tribute marking the 30th death anniversary of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in 2027, alongside an expanded citywide Qawwali programme throughout 2027.