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Abdul Wahab Bugti (Urdu/Balochi: عبدالوہاب بگٹی) is a Pakistani folk musician who performs in Balochi and Urdu. He is known for his use of the dambura, a plucked string instrument used in the folk music of Balochistan.

He rose to prominence with the release of the pop single "Kana Yaari" in season 14 (episode one) of Coke Studio Pakistan, also featuring singer Kaifi Khalil and rapper Eva B, in which Bugti lent both his vocals and lyrics.

Artistry and career

Bugti pens the lyrics to his songs in his native eastern Balochi dialect. His singing is usually accompanied with the use of a dambura, a traditional, long-necked plucked string instrument endemic to Balochi folk music. Bugti had a passion for singing since his childhood, joining a musical academy while in middle school where he was taught by a teacher. He would often accompany his teacher to perform at weddings and other local events in his village and surrounding areas. With the accessibility of internet, he began to upload his work on social media and eventually built his own studio where he would record his renditions of music. His soulfoul rendition of the song "Teri Mitti" from the Hindi film Kesari recorded in 2020 went viral in July 2021.

He was introduced to Coke Studio after being approached by its producer Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan for season 14, where he collaborated with artists Kaifi Khalil and Eva B for the Balochi pop track "Kana Yaari". In the track, which talks about love and betrayal, Bugti contributed his vocals, lyrics and also played the dambura as shown in the music video. The single, released in January 2022, instantly became a hit and catapulted Bugti to fame locally and internationally, gaining millions of hits on platforms such as YouTube and Spotify. The Norwegian hip hop dance group Quick Style also performed to the song, whom Bugti later met and jammed with in October while participating in Coke Studio's concert at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena.

In November 2022, Bugti performed a folk and contemporary rendition of the Pakistani national anthem onstage with Shehzad Roy at the 21st Lux Style Awards.

Personal life

Bugti hails from the village of Goth Mohammad Umar in Nasirabad District, Balochistan, where he owns livestock and agriculture. Some sources ascribe his name as Wahab Ali Bugti. He is married and has eight children.

In August 2022, Bugti's mud-house and village were swept away in monsoon flooding and he was forced to relocate with his family to the nearby city of Dera Murad Jamali. The news of his displacement during the natural disaster made headlines and he was offered assistance by Balochistan's chief minister, an army rescue team, as well as Coke Studio producer Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan. There was also an outpouring of support for the artist online via crowdsourcing.

Discography

Singles or renditions recorded by Bugti include:

References

1. ^ Hussain, Abid (30 August 2022). "Bugti: Coke Studio Pakistan singer left homeless after floods". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
2. ^ Zaidi, Safdar Abbas (23 January 2022). "Coke Studio creates its own genre of Balochi-pop with Kana Yaari". Bol News. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
3. ^ "Wahab Bugti and Quick Style are jamming together on "Kana Yaari"". Bol News. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
4. ^ "Coke Studio's B-Pop track Kana Yaari has social media grooving". Samaa English. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
5. ^ Notezai, Muhammad Akbar (23 August 2022). "Once a celebrity, now the face of destitution". Dawn. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
6. "Coke Studio - Kana Yaari - The Magical Journey". Coke Studio Pakistan (in Urdu). 20 January 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023 – via YouTube.
7. "Baloch singer Wahab Ali Bugti soulful rendition of 'Teri Mitti' is a hit on social media". Indian Express. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
8. "Baloch Singer Wahab Ali Bugti's Rendition of Teri Mitti Wins Internet's Heart". News18. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
9. "Not language, but music unites: Fans can't stop grooving to Balochi track 'Kana Yaari'". The Express Tribune. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
10. ^ "Wahab Bugti opens up about his personal life". Daily Pakistan. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
11. "Flood-hit Wahab Bugti returns to Coke Studio after a live performance in Dubai". Daily Pakistan. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
12. "Sajal Aly, Adnan Siddiqui in row over the remix of national anthem". Global Village Space. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
13. ^ "Special assistance ordered for Kana Yaari fame Wahab Bugti". Dawn. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
14. ^ Bint-e-Usman, Alishbah (22 August 2022). "Balochistan floods destroy 'Kana Yaari' famed Wahab Ali Bugti's house". Geo News. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
15. Chakraborty, Debdutta (6 September 2022). "Coke Studio's Wahab Ali Bugti to Aado Bhagat—Pakistanis step up to rescue singers". The Print. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
16. "Lt. Gen Asif Ghafoor meets 'Kana Yari' singer Wahab Bugti". Global Village Space. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
17. "After being displaced, singer Wahab Bugti finds refuge in nearby city". The Express Tribune. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
18. "Coke Studio singer Wahab Bugti rescued, assured of full support". Daily Pakistan. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.

• Living people
• Baloch musicians
• Balochi-language singers
• Pakistani folk singers
• Pakistani male singer-songwriters
• People from Nasirabad District
• Urdu-language singers