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Arooj Aftab won the GRAMMY for Best Global Music Performance for her sultry, soulful song based on the poetry of Punjab-born, 20th Century Sufi poet Hafeez Hoshiarpuri.
Aftab is the first Pakistani woman to win a GRAMMY. This is the composer’s first GRAMMY win. Aftab was also up for Best New Artist this year.
During her speech Aftab said: “I made [this record] about everything that broke me and put me back together. Thank you for listening to it and making it yours."
She was in great company with the other nominees in this category, which were Angelique Kidjo and Burna Boy, Femi Kuti, Yo-Yo Ma with Angelique Kidjo, and Wizkid ft. Tems.
Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, brought up in Lahore and based in Brooklyn, NY, Aftab's sounds incorporate all her cultures and have a very indie appeal to them. Her renditions of classics like Amir Zaki 'Mera Pyaar' and Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' went viral and helped launched the Pakistani indie scene.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama selected the song 'Mohabbat' as one of his summer playlist favorites for 2021.
Aftab has collaborated with artists such as Meshell Ndegeocello, Badi Assad, Jace Clayton, Vijay Iyer, Rafiq Bhatia, Shahzad Ismaily, Leo Genovese, Toshi Reagon, Maeve Gilchrist, Petros Klampanis, Magda Giannikou, and Gyan Riley, and has performed at Lincoln Center, The Andy Warhol Museum, Le Poisson Rouge and MoMA.
You can find here the complete list of winners and nominees at the 2022 GRAMMYs.
