In a moment of immense pride for India's rich cultural heritage, the legendary Warsi Brothers from Hyderabad have been honoured with the prestigious Aga Khan Music Award for 2025. The duo, Naseer Ahmed Khan Warsi and Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi, were recognised for their lifelong dedication to preserving and propagating the classical qawwali tradition of the Indian subcontinent.
The Pinnacle of Recognition for a Sacred Art Form
The awards ceremony was held from 20–23 November 2025 at London’s renowned Southbank Centre, as part of a special four-day festival presented in collaboration with the EFG London Jazz Festival. The Warsi Brothers were selected from an initial pool of over 400 nominees by a seven-member international Master Jury comprising distinguished performers, producers, and scholars.
Qawwali, a devotional musical tradition rooted in Sufi Islam, is a centuries-old art form that combines poetry, rhythmic clapping, and soaring vocals to create a powerful, collective spiritual experience. It aims to evoke wajd, a state of divine ecstasy. Traditionally performed at dargahs (shrines), it carries the verses of mystic poets and serves as both worship and profound storytelling.
Custodians of a 700-Year-Old Legacy
The Warsi Brothers are celebrated as among the finest living custodians of traditional qawwali. They are direct descendants of the musical lineage of the 14th-century poet and mystic Amir Khusrau, widely regarded as the father of qawwali. Trained under their grandfather, the late Padma Shri Aziz Ahmad Khan Warsi, they embody the classical rigour and devotional depth of the Delhi Gharana.
Based in Hyderabad, their family has a storied history as court musicians for the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad. They continue to perform at shrines while also taking Khusrau's vast repertoire to contemporary national and international stages. The award jury specifically cited them for the "energetic preservation and onward transmission of the spiritual and musical legacy of Amir Khusrau to multigenerational audiences at the highest level of musical excellence."
Beyond the Award: Archiving and Mentoring for the Future
Since the 1990s, the Warsi Brothers have performed at major global festivals, carrying the soul-stirring sounds of qawwali across the world. Looking ahead, the family aims to use this recognition to bolster their archival and teaching initiatives. Their goal is to systematically document their extensive repertoire and mentor the next generation of qawwals, ensuring the continuity of this 700-year-old tradition for centuries to come.
The Aga Khan Music Awards were established in 2000 by the Aga Khan Music Programme. They aim to support artists working within the diverse musical cultures of the Islamic world and to promote values of pluralism, intercultural dialogue, and community resilience. Award recipients gain access to significant professional development opportunities, including new commissions, recording projects, and preservation support.
Speaking on the significance of the awards, His Highness the Aga Khan highlighted a long-standing belief in music's unique power to bridge cultures and uplift the human spirit. Fairouz Nishanova, Director of the Aga Khan Music Programme, added that music remains a central, powerful connector of human communities across the globe.
