Riffat Sultana

Riffat Sultana broke many boundaries by singing qawwali in a male-dominated Pakistani
culture. Part of a 500-year familial lineage—her father is the legendary Ustad Salamat Ali Khan
—one instantly recognizes the emotional intensity of Sultana’s plight, as well as victory on stages
worldwide. She was the lead vocalist on the groundbreaking 2001 album by Shabaz, alongside
brother Sukhawat, and has performed on Cheb i Sabbah’s albums. Her intimate live performance
will certainly prove why she’s performed alongside artists such as Ben Harper, Jeff Beck and
Quincy Jones.