Abdul Gafur Hali

(1929 – 2016)

Abdul Gafur Hali (also known by his Sufi name Gafur Hali Maizbhanderi), was considered one of the pioneer lyricists, composers and singers of Bangla folk, mystical and local songs. From and early age he was inspired by the works of another legendary folk song composer Askar Ali Pandit. Later, he was influenced the mystical songs of the Maizbhandai Sufi singers in Chittagong region). Thus, Sufi singers like Moulana Bazlul Karim Kanchanpuri, Moulana Abdul Hadi, and Ramesh Shil left a great impression on his life. He never formally learned how to sing or play a harmonium but used to follow their works. Though his family encouraged him to encourage other

professions, Hali was only interested in music. His first Maizbhanderi Sufi Lyric was: “Will you play How long!/ Will you die not?/ How many has come and gone/ Were they belongs to!”.

Hali composed over 2,000 local folk, murshidi, marfati and maizbhandari songs including ‘Banu r! O Banu! ai jaium Chatga shohrot tuarlai ainnum ki’. He successfully used local language of Chittagong (Chattagram) region in composing his songs and in his literary works. Apart from the songs, Gafur Hali also penned six folk plays using his native language of Chattagram. Of the plays ‘Gulbahar’, ‘Nilmoni’, ‘Ashek Bondhu’ are notable.

Professor Hans Harder of Heidelberg University in Germany published a research book on Hali in 2004.

He died at the age of 88 years.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Gafur_Hali

https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/music/abdul-gafur-hali-1341394

Further reading: https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/12/21/famous-lyricist-composer-abdul-gafur-hali-no