Early Life & Spiritual Foundation

Abida Parveen was born on February 20, 1954, in Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan, into a family deeply rooted in Sufi traditions. Her father, Ustad Ghulam Haider, was a renowned vocalist and music teacher who recognized her spiritual and musical gifts from an early age.

She began her formal musical training at age three and gave her first public performance at Radio Pakistan, Hyderabad, when she was just nine years old. Her father broke tradition by teaching her the complex art of Sufi music, which was typically reserved for male performers.

Rise to Spiritual Prominence

Abida Parveen's breakthrough came in the 1970s when she began performing on Pakistan Television. Her powerful, soul-stirring voice and deep spiritual connection immediately captivated audiences across the nation.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Abida Parveen revolutionized Sufi music by:

• Bringing Sufi music from shrines to mainstream platforms
• Mastering and popularizing the Kafi genre of Sufi poetry
• Performing internationally while maintaining spiritual authenticity
• Becoming the foremost female exponent of Sufi music globally

Global Spiritual Ambassador

Abida Parveen became the first female Sufi singer to achieve international recognition, performing at prestigious venues worldwide and introducing global audiences to the depth of Sufi spiritual traditions.

She has performed at renowned spiritual and cultural venues including:

• Royal Albert Hall, London - Multiple sold-out performances
• Carnegie Hall, New York - Historic Sufi music presentations
• Womad Festival - Introducing Sufi traditions to world music audiences
• Various UNESCO events - Promoting peace through spiritual music