Pakistani musician Arooj Aftab. Photo: Supplied / Ebru Yildiz
Arooj Aftab was one of the Highlights of WOMAD 2024. The a remarkable Pakistani-American musician, composer and producer is celebrated for blending classical music with elements of jazz, folk, and trance.
A noted favourite of Barack Obama, Arooj relocated to the US at 19, leaving her hometown of Lahore, Pakistan, having previously spent part of her childhood in Saudi Arabia.
She gained widespread recognition in 2021 when she won the Grammy for Best Global Music Performance for her interpretation of "Mohabbat."
Here’s Arooj Aftab performing live at WOMAD in New Plymouth accompanied solely by an acoustic guitarist and a double bassist.
This concert was recorded live at WOMAD 2024 by RNZ sound engineer Sam Smaill and mixed by Darryl Stack.
