3 Ways Peter Gabriel Helped Introduce Qawwali to the West

Gabriel was captivated by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan at the 1985 WOMAD festival. He reportedly stopped speaking mid-sentence to watch Khan perform.

This moment marked the first major exposure of qawwali to a Western audience. Gabriel’s reaction highlighted the power of Khan’s music.

Gabriel’s WOMAD platform directly led to Khan’s international recognition. The festival became a bridge for cross-cultural musical discovery.