One of the leading Sufi singers in the country, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who is the nephew of the late (and still legendary) Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is presently in the United Kingdom where he has received an honorary degree from Oxford University. The ceremony took place yesterday and the singer was presented with the degree of Doctor of Music, as announced by the university previously.
Prior to receiving the degree, RFAK said, “I am honoured to be accepting this degree from Oxford University, a world famous educational institution. This will be a very special day for not just me and my family but also for my fans who have shared this journey with me. To be presented with this honour is a massive achievement and I am happy that my music has allowed me to reach such incredible heights.”
RFAK will be performing at the Oxford Town Hall today (June 27) and the evening will feature qawwalis by the legend himself. The money generated through this performance will be used to enhance the Faculty of Music’s Sounds of South Asia series.
Oxford University has previously recognised the work of Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan by naming one of their prestigious music halls after the maestro. He carries the torch for a family (gharana), which has a rich cultural history and a heritage which includes over 600 years in Sufi and Qawwali music folklore.
