Amjad Sabri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amjad Sabri
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| Born | 23 December 1976 |
| Died | 22 June 2016 (aged 39) Liaquatabad Town, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
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| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Resting place | Paposh Nagar Graveyard, Karachi, Pakistan |
| Occupation | Chorus singer (until 1996) Lead Qawwali Singer (1996 - 2016) |
| Years active | 1982 - 2016 |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Ghulam Farid Sabri (father) |
| Relatives | Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (uncle) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Sufi |
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| Associated acts | Sabri Brothers |
Amjad Farid (Fareed) Sabri (born December 23, 1976 – died June 22, 2016) was a famous Pakistani qawwal. A qawwal is a singer who performs Qawwali, a type of Sufi devotional music. Amjad Sabri was also a naat khawan, meaning he recited poems praising the Prophet Muhammad.
He was the son of Ghulam Farid Sabri and nephew of Maqbool Ahmed Sabri, both well-known members of the Sabri Brothers musical group. Amjad Sabri became one of the most important qawwali singers in South Asia. He often sang poems written by his father and uncle. Sadly, Amjad Sabri was killed in 2016.
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His Musical Journey
Amjad Sabri was born in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. He started learning qawwali music from his father when he was just nine years old. By 1982, he was already joining his father on stage to perform.
His father taught him a special music style called Raag Bhairon. This style is usually practiced early in the morning. To learn it, Amjad had to wake up in the middle of the night. After saying a midnight prayer, he would practice playing the baja (harmonium).
Amjad Sabri shared his family's music with the world. He traveled to India, America, and Europe. People sometimes called him the "rock star" of qawwali. He became one of the most admired qawwali singers in the Indian subcontinent and performed globally.
When he was younger, Amjad was part of the chorus in his father's and uncle's band, the Sabri Brothers. He would clap along with the music. At age six, he appeared with his father and uncle in a Pakistani film called Saharay (1982). In the film, his father and uncle sang their famous song Tajdar-e-Haram. Amjad also recited a poem called Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua in the same movie.
After his father passed away, Amjad's uncle Maqbool Ahmed Sabri led The Sabri Brothers. Amjad became a supporting singer and played the Bongos. Later, in 1996, he started his own music group with his brothers and friends.
His first album, Balaghal Ola Be Kamalehi, came out in 1997. It included a popular song by his father and uncle, Sar E La Makan Se Talab Hui. Amjad mostly sang poems that his father and uncle had performed. Over time, he also started to include some of his own songs. Some of his well-known qawwalis were Ali Ke Sath Hai Zehra Ki Shaadi and Na Poochiye Ke Kya Hussain Hai. His most famous song was a Naat called Karam Maangta Hoon.
His other popular works included Main Nazar Karoon Jaan E Jigar, Allah Allah, Dhoom Macha Do, Kaabe Ki Raunaq, Kaash Yeh Dua Meri, Ali Mera Dil, Phir Dikha De Haram, Tuloo E Saher Hai Shaam-E-Qalandar, and his last Naat, Aye Sabz Gumbad Wale.
Amjad Sabri's final music project was with Coke Studio. He performed an amazing qawwali called "Aaj Rang Hai" with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. This was part of Episode 7 of Season 9. It was his first and last performance on that show.
His Life Outside Music
Friends and family remember Amjad Sabri as a kind and friendly person who always smiled. He loved playing board games and enjoyed playing jokes on people. He married his wife, Nadia, in 2002 after they were introduced by friends. Amjad and Nadia had five children together.
Amjad Sabri was a dedicated family man. He preferred to spend time with his wife and children, even though his music career meant a lot of travel. He would often miss his home when he was abroad. Those who knew him well also saw him as a bit unique and outspoken. Even after becoming famous worldwide, Sabri chose to live in his simple home in Liaqatabad. He felt a special connection to the house his father had built and did not want to move to a richer area.
His Passing
On June 22, 2016, Amjad Sabri had just finished a morning TV show. In his last performance, he sang a Naat that included the words, "When I shudder in my dark tomb, dear Prophet, look after me."
Later that day, two people on motorcycles shot at Sabri's car in Liaquatabad Town, Karachi. Amjad Sabri, an assistant, and his driver were badly hurt. Sabri was shot in the head and ear. All of them were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where Amjad Sabri passed away soon after. His death happened near an underpass named after his father.
Tens of thousands of people attended Amjad Sabri's funeral in Karachi. He was buried near his father, Ghulam Farid Sabri, and uncle, Maqbool Ahmed Sabri, at Paposh Qabristan in Nazimabad.
Many public figures in Pakistan and India expressed their sadness about Amjad Sabri's death. Several protests were held against the killing. Many songs, music videos, and articles were created to honor him. He was also remembered in various shows and award ceremonies in Pakistan. Since his death, many concerts have been held around the world to pay tribute to him. In 2016, a Qawwali group held a concert in the United States in his honor, which thousands of people attended.
Investigations and Claims
After Amjad Sabri's death, a worker from a political party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was arrested. This worker, Shahzad Mullah, said he was involved in the murder. He stated that a team of six people was formed to attack Amjad Sabri.
Local Pakistani news, like Dawn News, also reported that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for killing Amjad Sabri. A spokesman for the group, Qari Saifullah Mehsud, made this claim. Qari Saifullah Mehsud was later killed by an unknown gunman in Khost province of Afghanistan on December 29, 2019. Mehsud was an important TTP commander. Pakistan wanted him for his involvement in several attacks in the country. He had been arrested by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2016 but was released after 14 weeks.
His Lasting Impact
- Amjad Sabri was given the Pride of Performance award by the Government of Pakistan. This is a very important award for people who have done great things for the country.
- In 2018, after his death, Sabri received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. This is Pakistan's third highest award for civilians, given by President Mamnoon Hussain.
- Amjad Sabri's voice was featured in a song called "Church" on Coldplay's 2019 album, Everyday Life.
See also
In Spanish: Amjad Sabri para niños
