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Despite threats, this Pushto singer vows to keep the music alive

Despite threats, this Pushto singer vows to keep the music alive

Singer Nazia Iqbal was forced to quit singing by the kidnappers of her sons. Now, she's back with a new album
11 Sep, 2016

PESHAWAR: Noted Pashto folk singer Nazia Iqbal has said that she will continue serving Pashto quality music despite slump in the market and threats.

She said that like other artists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata she also suffered owing to militancy, but had to serve the art and culture to promote peace. She said that some time ago she had announced to quit singing during a stage show in Dubai following threats from kidnappers.

The singer said that she had restricted her activities and distanced herself from Pashto music scene under duress.

Nazia expressed these views during a media briefing at a local wedding hall here the other day. She formally launched her new Pashto album Chaata Ma Waiya Janan (Don’t endear anyone as darling) for upcoming Eidul Azha.

She described main features of her new release and hoped that it would attract large number of audience due to its quality music and poetry. The album contains nine Pashto songs and one Urdu piece sung in the style of light ghazal with a base music composition.

She said that unknown persons had kidnapped her two sons from Islamabad and forced her to quit singing otherwise her sons would be killed. She said that they were recovered safely and again she started singing to serve art of music with a new zeal. A select audience comprising music buffs, art critics, writers and fans of Nazia Iqbal attended the musical concert.

“I cannot think of singing a poetic piece unless I am sure of its content and message. My music and poetry should correspond to my cultural identity. It is better not to sing than to earn the title of being a computer singer,” Ms Iqbal remarked.

She completed audio and video recording of her new Pashto album and performed to entertain a select gathering at a local wedding hall.

She said she would help recreate market for Pashto charts through her quality work. She said depending on only computer -based music arrangement would not work as traditional melodies required a natural sound base and born passion.

She said she had made a hard decision at that time just to save lives of her kids, but was determined to restart her singing career once her kids were recovered.

“I had to announce quitting music field publicly at a musical concert in front a huge crowd in Dubai to save the precious lives of my kids. I went underground and preferred to keep quiet till recovery of my two sons. Thank God, I got my sons back and I started singing with a new spirit,” she recalled.

Nazia Iqbal staged a comeback after a long time since she had shifted to Islamabad where she lived with her husband Javed Fazaa and her kids.

About slump in Pashto market, she said that she didn’t care about whether her album would be sold or not, but would continue focusing on producing quality music and poetry. She said music and poetry both should be reflective of our cultural identity.

“I cannot think of singing a poetic piece unless I am sure of its content and message. My music and poetry should correspond to my cultural identity. It is better not to sing than to earn the title of being a computer singer,” Ms Iqbal remarked.

The noted singer said only a few genuine singers could perform live, the rest she said depended on lip-synch. “Doing rehearsal at least two hours a day is must to be an accomplished artist. I suggest upcoming youth should sit with music ustads if they want to learn music,” she said.


Originally published in Dawn, September 11th, 2016

Comments

art kp Sep 11, 2016 10:17am
Don't let anybody change you. Extremists and haters will hate, potatoes will potate.
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Azad Sep 11, 2016 10:19am
So sad that these self-righteous bouchers didn't spared our harmless entertaining artists. I am a big fan of Nazis Iqbal and was very sad at his departure from poshto music industry. Well come back Nazia, we are eager to hear your soul touching melodies.
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De facto singers Sep 11, 2016 10:27am
Ma'am Nazia Iqbal, congrats for your new album. Keep it up.
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Talat Satar Sep 11, 2016 10:51am
Nazia Iqbal is just a drama. She quit her music in the past as well and came back singing again. Nazia Iqbal has been replaced by several other pashto talented singers like Gul Pana. she is just increasing her value by spreading false accusations and she just want to play sympathy card.
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Shan Kazmi Sep 11, 2016 11:12am
The people belonging to performing arts are under immense life threat by pseudo Islamic groups like Taliban. Nazia is a great talent from KPK area, but Taliban don't want her to sing at all.
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Jawad pakistani Sep 11, 2016 11:34am
That's the sprint Ms. Iqbal, no one has right to stop what you are doing. We appreciate your bravery and We are behind you and support you.
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Syed Sep 11, 2016 12:14pm
Nazia don't stop singing for the love of Pashton nation at least..and don't get distracted by these morons because the other day I heard an extremist singing one of your newly released song :)
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Gul Khan Sep 11, 2016 01:20pm
What is the problem with KPK men, why don't they accept women as human being?
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Parvez Sep 11, 2016 02:39pm
Brave lady.........Pakistan needs many, many more such persons.
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Gul Khan Sep 11, 2016 03:02pm
Ms. Nazia, you are a brave human being on this part of the world. We salute you and encourage you in fulfilling your dreams. The whole humanity is with you, despite the fact that there are people who don't like your spirit. Keep going Ms. Nazia....
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Aly Alp-Ercelan Sep 11, 2016 07:44pm
No praise enough for the very brave woman. She lives the proverb "you only die once"
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ali-da Sep 11, 2016 08:12pm
As long as u keeping it real go ahead and sing. Just fyi some fanatics out there look out for them. Good luck
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ZAFAR Sep 11, 2016 08:18pm
Why isn't pakistan providing security to its talents? Shameful.
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Satish Kumar Dogra Sep 11, 2016 08:42pm
Pakistan is a land of great people and bad politicians --- as, to some extent, is my country too. After all, we are brothers who fought and separated.
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Faisal Hamid Sep 12, 2016 09:47am
You are our identity Ms. Nazia, keep going and be safe. You are lucky that your family is with you. This kind of act should be stop in KPK and Mr. Khattak should take serious note of it. He can keep dancing on the floor, but should stop such acts now and for sure.
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Anwar Sadiqque Sep 13, 2016 02:08am
Song,art, dance are integral part of a culture. Destroy all this and you are destroying the culture.
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