Musicians & Performers

Ustad Noor Bakhsh

Benju master from Balochistan, Pakistan. His music bridges deep-rooted folk traditions with a contemporary spirit that travels beyond borders. Ustad’s performances with Korsi in Cologne brought together audiences from across cultures — a rare moment of joy and belonging.
Fadi Elias

Ustad Noor Bakhsh is a legendary musician from Balochistan, Pakistan, and one of the world’s foremost masters of the electric benju — a keyed zither adapted from the Japanese taishōkoto and reimagined within Balochi folk traditions. Rooted deeply in the music of his homeland, Noor Bakhsh’s sound bridges Balochi folk melodies with South Asian ragas, Persian, and Kurdish influences, creating a luminous and transcendent fusion.

For decades, he was celebrated locally, performing at weddings and village gatherings across the Makran coast. His music reached international audiences only recently — in his seventies — after videos of his performances went viral online. His debut album Jingul (2022) received global acclaim for its soulful virtuosity and cross-cultural resonance. Now touring internationally, Noor Bakhsh performs to sold-out audiences that dance to his hypnotic rhythms and joyful improvisations.

In 2025, he was recognized as a finalist for the Aga Khan Music Awards, cementing his place as one of South Asia’s most remarkable living musicians.

Based in
No Entry
From
Balochistan
Works in
Music, Performance