Barkat Jamal Fakir Troupe
Hailing from the village of Jhol in Sanghar district of Sindh, Barkat Jamal is the founding member of his troupe. Son of Jamaluddin Fakir, Barkat Jamal began his musical learning while he was still in primary school— sometimes doing riyaaz for up to 5 hours in the morning before going to school. Entrusted with the tradition and discipline of fakiri, Barkat Jamal, alongside troupe members Hussain Bux Fakir and Sonu Fakir, travels through Sindh, carrying on the work of the fakirs— deeming it his duty to spread the message of Sufi saints. For the troupe, fakiri is a matter of deep inward introspection in an attempt to recognize one’s Self. This introspection is a means to an end; a hope to recognise one’s own vices and embark on the pursuit of eliminating them. Ultimately this path to fakiri is one that evokes empathy, as it calls for respect of the Divine’s creation, and in doing so, fosters love for other human beings. Today the troupe can usually be found performing at their home base in the shrine of Hazrat Manthar Fakir Rajar. This season, the Barkat Jamal Fakir Troupe brings its message to Coke Studio’s stage in three voices that create a chorus of earthy vibrancy.
“Music is nutrition for the soul. Before we even sing the song, we listen to it. We understand it, then we sing it. Since my childhood, this has been my soul’s nutrition. When I sing, my soul finds peace.”