Written by: Nayha Jehangir Khan
Posted on: June 28, 2022 | 
| 中文
President Arif Alvi and family with Zia Ul Karim and other music students
Zia Ul Karim was a promising multi-instrument maestro known for his soulful compositions and remarkable musical innovation. His dedication to the indigenous music and heritage of the region became the foundation for pursuing the study of Musicology at The National College of Arts in Lahore. After graduating with a distinction in 2019, he returned to his hometown in Hunza with the intention to build an inclusive and inspiring music community that would train and promote young musicians under his tutelage.
Zia Ul Karim teaching a kid to beat drum
His pure and noble quest in preserving the dying arts of classical and folk music put Gilgit-Baltistan on the main stages of leading national platforms such as Face Music Mela in Islamabad and the National Museum of History in Lahore. The memorable compositions and energetic live performances by his band Jiill are incredibly moving and will never be forgotten by the audiences who saw them perform. Jiill translates to dawn, or to rise in the native language of Hunza called Brushaski. In the ensemble, Zia Ul Karim played the violin and xhighini, Akmal Yaqoob played the flute and saxophone, Mujeeb Ur Rehman played the rubab, Masood Haraking played sitar, Adnan Karim and Fayyaz Ahmed played the percussions section. The instrumental performances were electrifying as Zia Ul Karim would switch from playing the classical santoor to diving into the violin. The melodies created by the band were representational of each instrument with hypnotic syncopation and orchestral symphonies, all while staying true to the spirit of Hunzai music heritage.
Salima Hashmi, Ghazi Salahuddin, Zia Ul Karim and others at the Leif Larson Music Center, Hunza
Zia Ul Karim invented the xhighini and was set on having it patented before his untimely and tragic death on June 17th, 2022. Raania Azam Khan Durrani, a multi-discipline artist, creative producer and friend of Karim shared in an Instagram post dedicated to him that “It is shocking and mind-numbing that he is no more. It may be impossible to fill the void he leaves behind for his loved ones, his students and the music of Gilgit-Baltistan.” Others have been sharing their tributes and memories of the late musical genius, commemorating his contributions to music and his community. As a master trainer, he taught and mentored over a hundred students at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels at the Leif Larsen Music Centre, situated at the Altit Royal Gardens, Hunza. Teaching was considered by him to be the most rewarding contribution as he provided a safe, nurturing and compassionate environment for his students. During his time teaching in Hunza, he was loved and admired by his students. Karim conducted and produced a young ensemble called Gurgu, composed mainly of his students at the Leif Larsen Music Centre, established by the Aga Khan Music Initiative (AKMI) and Aga Khan Cultural Services, Pakistan, with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad. Videos of their close-knit sessions surrounded by the highest mountain peaks in the world, are a testament to the unbreakable and unconditional bond between teacher and student. The ensemble had a month-long residency at the 2020 Expo Dubai, representing Pakistan on an international global music stage.
Foreign guests are listening to a musical performance by young musicians at Leif Larson Music Center
Zia Ul Karim tirelessly worked to preserve folk, Sufi and fusion music through live performances, musical collectives and creating performance videos shared on the Jiill Youtube channel. A true innovator and musical prodigy, he was connected to a host of other musicians and bands from around the country. He left the world at the young age of only 27. Karim’s life had been dedicated to music since he was 15. His love for blending musical traditions from Classical, Folk to Western earned him notoriety and fame within a short period of time. Destined for future accomplishments, Karim ensured that he did not waste a single moment. While studying at the NCA, the main focus of his research was the modification and reinventing of the indigenous string instrument xhigini. His commitment to bringing this ancient instrument into the modern age earned him a feature on the BBC Urdu Channel in 2019.
Zia Ul Karim
The tenacity with which Zia Ul Karim was committed to his work, the furthering of folk heritage music and his dedication to his young pupils, has set the way forward for future generations of musicians to carry on his musical legacy. The appreciation and love for music has a global language, one that was understood deeply by Zia Ul Karim, who championed both traditional and contemporary practices of music. The preservation of the enchanting and melodious sounds of these fading folk instruments was a professional and personal goal for Karim. He was a teacher who did not discriminate between the genders, as he cultivated a love for music in all his students. His selfless contributions will forever brighten the legacy of Hunzai music for generations to come.
Leif Larson Music Center
To know more about Zia Ul Karim follow the links below:
Jiill Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDUT6uaCtRBu6MwJlb-1GVg
Leif Larsen Music Centre: https://www.instagram.com/llmchunza
Gurgu Ensemble: https://www.instagram.com/gurguensemble/
Agha Khan Music: https://www.instagram.com/agakhanmusic/
You may also like:
