"This qawwali night brings our community together"
The Sabri Brothers Legacy will bring the timeless tradition of qawwali to London’s Harrow Arts Centre on July 18, 2026, with DESIblitz serving as the event’s official media partner.
Titled An Evening of Qawwali, the concert is being hosted by Harrow-based charity Soul Kitchen, with all proceeds supporting its work tackling food poverty across the borough.
Led by Salim Sabri, who continues the lineage of legendary Pakistani qawwali maestros Ghulam Farid Sabri and Maqbool Ahmed Sabri, the evening promises a celebration of Sufi music, culture and community.
For many British Pakistanis, qawwali holds a deeply personal and cultural significance.
From family weddings and spiritual gatherings to its influence on popular music, the genre has remained an important connection to heritage across generations.
The event will offer audiences the opportunity to experience a major Sabri-lineage performance in London while supporting a charity that has spent nearly a decade providing meals and community support to those facing hardship.
The Sabri Brothers are regarded as some of the most influential figures in qawwali history.
Their performances helped introduce Sufi devotional music to international audiences from the 1950s onwards, with their legacy continuing to influence artists and performers across South Asia and the diaspora.
Salim Sabri and his ensemble carry this tradition forward through a repertoire rooted in classical Sufi poetry from renowned figures including Amir Khusrau, Rumi and Bulleh Shah.
A leading internationally recognised Sufi singer, Salim Sabri is a student of the late Maqbool Ahmed Sabri of the Sabri Brothers.
He began his singing career at the age of 12 and grew up surrounded by a rich musical and Sufi heritage.
The art of qawwali was passed down to him through his maternal uncle, an established qawwali singer in India, helping shape his journey as a performer.
The concert will also feature Wasim Sabri, with the evening celebrating the spiritual depth of qawwali through powerful vocals, poetry and traditional performances.
Soul Kitchen Event to Support the Community
Soul Kitchen has organised the event as part of its ongoing efforts to support families and individuals experiencing food insecurity in Harrow.
The registered charity has been providing hot meals and community support since 2017, working alongside local organisations including Harrow Central Mosque, the Salam Centre, Shah Jalal Community Centre and the London Borough of Harrow.
The charity operates across three service locations and has built a network of community partners to ensure support reaches those who need it most.
In 2025, Soul Kitchen supported more than 12,500 families and 31,000 individuals across the borough, serving over 34,000 hot meals.
Its guiding principle is that anyone can access its services without questions or judgement.
Through its message of “Food without barriers. Support without judgement”, the charity aims to provide dignity alongside practical support.
Syed Hasan, Founder of Soul Kitchen, highlighted the different realities faced by people experiencing food poverty.
He said: “What people don’t realise about food poverty is who actually walks through our doors.
“It’s the elderly gentleman who lost his wife. The young mother whose Universal Credit has been delayed again. The student who’s run out of money before the end of term.
“Hunger in this country wears many faces, and Soul Kitchen exists to meet every one of them with dignity.”
“This qawwali night brings our community together for something beautiful, while raising the funds we need to keep serving the families behind those doors.”
The event aims to bring people together through music while raising vital funds for Soul Kitchen’s continued work in the community.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Doors open at 7 pm. Show starts at 7:30 pm.
Venue: Elliott Hall, Harrow Arts Centre, 171 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Harrow, HA5 4EA
Tickets: £30 Premium / £20 Standard / £10 Economy / £10 Under-16s
Book: https://harrowarts.com/events/an-evening-of-qawwali-with-sabri-brothers-legacy/
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