Aziz Balouch: Pakistani who played flamenco

Aziz Balouch, a musician from Sindh in Pakistan came to Spain in the early 1900s to study flamenco music. And he was devoted to proving the link between Islamic music and flamenco.

When Baloch first heard flamenco music, it instantly reminded him of the Sufi devotional music in his homeland.

In Spain, he became a flamenco musician and played alongside other Spanish performers.

Baloch wrote a book in Spanish on the history of Islamic influence on flamenco, Cante Jondo su Origen y Evolucion – Cante Jondo Its Origin and Evolution (1955).

Flamenco has many influences as Spain under the Muslims was a melting pot of cultures. The Romani community in Spain is one of the main cultures linked to flamenco, but what is less talked about is the origins of the Romani people from India. When the Romani’s came to Muslim Spain in the 12th century, their music and dance traditions were heavily influenced by India which was ruled by Islamic empires.

This fascinating story is one of the many that show how Muslim culture has had a profound and lasting influence across the world to this day.

Further reading by Stefan Williamson Fa: https://www.criticalmuslim.io/aziz-balouch/