Sindhi folk music (Sindhi: سنڌي لوڪ موسيقي) is traditional folk music and singing from Sindh, is sung and is generally performed of 5 genres that originated in Sindh, the first genre "Bait" styles. The Bait style is vocal music in Sanhoon (low voice) or Graham (high voice). Second style "Waee" instrumental music is performed in a variety of ways using a string instrument. Waee, also known as Kafi,[1] other folk genres of Sindhi music are Lada/Sehra/Geech, Dhammal, Dohiraa, Bhagat, Kalaam, Classical, Molud, Osira/Paar[2] etc.[3] Today other modern genres are also being introduced.[4][5]
Sindhi folk music was popularized by great Sindhi sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.
The folk Sindhi musician communities whose ancestral work is singing and playing music instruments, are Manganhar, Langha, Mirasis and Dumria, these communities on every special occasions were invited to sing folk ceremonial songs.
The Sindhi folk music has also been influenced by Sheedi (African origin) people specially in lower Sindh, the Sheedi community have their own style of folk music and dance, which is quite popular in Sindh. In lower Sindh (Lar) region the Sheedi community are the well known folk singers, musicians and dancers, the women are specially invited in weddings, engagements and on other ceremonious occasions to sing (Sehra, Lada and Geech). The modern Sindhi wedding songs use the Sheedi music beats as well.[6]
The Sindhi music generally has three or four styles, the folk music, classical music, sufi music and modern style music, many modern singers experiment with western music, rapping, hiphop and jazz is being introduced by the young musicians.
The traditional compilations of Shah Jo Risalo by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai include 30 Suras (chapters) which are sang as raags. The oldest publications of Shah Jo Risalo contained 36 Suras, but later six of the Suras were rejected because the language and content did not correspond to the style of the Shah.[citation needed] Recently, Nabi Bakhsh Baloch, the most famous Sindhi linguist has compiled and published a new publication after 32 years of research, into popular culture and the history of the Sindhi language. The famous singer Abida Parveen has recorded the entire Shah's Suras on her 11th volume CD Shah Jo Risalo, released in December 2013.[7]
The 30 traditional Suras included in Shah Jo Risalo are:[8]
Common instruments used in Sindhi regional music include:[9][10][1]
Some famous Sindhi songs include "Ho Jamalo", "Sindh Muhinji Amma", "Parchan Shaal Pavar Dhola" and "Peren Pavandi Saan."[11] Waheed Ali, Barkat Ali, Misri Faqeer and Khatadar Ahiyan are well-known Sindhi musicians.
Enumerating indigenous Sindhi instruments, Dr Rafiq said, Boraneendo, Narr, Chang, Dambooro, Gharro, Surando, Murlee, Alghozo and Banjo are some important instruments.