Allan Fakir, one of the most recognized folk singers, was born on 1932 in the ancient Aamri village, Taluka Manjhand, Jamshoro, District, Sindh, Pakistan.
Known as one of the foremost exponents of sufi music in Pakistan, Allan Fakir belonged to the Mangrasi tribe. The tribe of Mangarhars are believed to bring happiness and welcomed on celebratory occasions for the gift of melody. Since his teenage, Allan Fakir used to sing traditional songs with his father and brother at various festive occasions.
Later, he developed a habit of singing depressed songs and went off to the tomb of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai in Bhit Shah to find the spiritual love. In spite of being deprived of basic education, Allan Fakir learnt much poetry at the tomb just by hearing them, with his sharp memory. The traditional Latifi raag touched the heart and soul of Allan Fakir and he started singing Bhitai’s poetry at the shrine with the encouragement by Faqir Zawar Qurban Ali Lanjwani and Moolchand Maharaj.
With his tremendous talent, Allan Fakir spent twenty years of his life at shrine, until his melodious voice was discovered by Mumtaz Mirza, who introduced him to Radio Pakistan and PTV in Hyderabad. After getting into professional singing, Allan Fakir learnt the correct pronunciation of Bhitai’s poetry. With his hard work and spiritual touch in singing, Allan Fakir eventually became a performing legend.
Most of his songs are in Sindhi Language and revolve around Sufism. The simple and devoted Allan Fakir enjoyed peak of fame with a duet with Muhammad Ali Shehki, “Allah Allah kar bhaiya”. His tremendously popular duet with Shehki was a brilliant fusion of pop and folk singing, which not only took Pakistan to the centre of the world music arena but also led to his co-singer Muhammad Ali Shehki to new heights of popularity in the late 1980s.
Another popular track of Fakir was a patriotic song, “Itne bare jeewan saagar main.” In appreciation of his services to folk culture, Allan Fakir received the President’s Pride of Performance award in 1980, the Shahbaz Award in 1987, the Shah Latif Award in 1992 and Kandhkot Award in 1993. Allan Fakir died on 4 July 2000 in a very miserable condition.
