Pakistan is remembering renowned Qawwali singer Maqbool Ahmed Sabri today on his 15th death anniversary. He passed away on 21 September 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa, at the age of 65, after battling heart problems and diabetes.
Born on 12 October 1945 in Kalyana, a town in undivided Punjab before independence, Maqbool Ahmed Sabri came from a family deeply rooted in classical music. He received early training from his father, Ustad Inayat Hussain Sabri, and later performed alongside his elder brother, Ghulam Farid Sabri. Together, the two formed the world-famous group known as the Sabri Brothers, which went on to become one of the most celebrated names in Qawwali history.
The duo released their first recording in 1958 and soon gained recognition both in Pakistan and abroad, performing at major international venues including a landmark tour of the United States in the 1970s. Their soulful renditions of songs such as “Bhar Do Jholi Meri” and “Mera Koi Nahin Hai Tere Siwa” remain popular even today. For their contribution to music, the Sabri Brothers were honoured with Pakistan’s Pride of Performance award.
Maqbool Ahmed Sabri continued to lead the group after his brother died in 1994, until his own passing in 2011. His legacy lives on through his family, including his nephew Amjad Sabri, who also became a well-known Qawwal before he died in 2016.
