A powerful vocalist and performer, Wajiha Ather Naqvi brings South Asia’s rich musical traditions to life. From her memorable Coke Studio performance of “Yaqeen” to her recordings across streaming platforms, she continues to carry Qawwali and other devotional music into contemporary spaces.

Under the Performing Arts category of the WOW Gender Grants, Wajiha’s project explores how women have historically shaped and sustained South Asian musical lineages — creating space for their voices to be heard in traditions often dominated by men.

This project also spotlights the rise of Noreen Afzal, an emerging qawwal from Gujranwala whose journey from DIY social media videos to her first studio album and a live performance at the WOW Festival in Karachi challenges entrenched gender and class barriers. With her brothers by her side, Noreen embodies a powerful story of resilience and male allyship, reclaiming space for women in Qawwali.