On the magical evening of September 19, the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) transformed the University of the Fraser Valley’s K building patio into a vibrant celebration of South Asian folk music and poetry. The event, set under the blue skies of the Fraser Valley, showcased the rich, diverse traditions of folk music from South Asia, particularly from the Panjab region. The talented performers, each with their unique artistic expression, captivated the audience, transporting them through rhythmic beats, soulful melodies, and evocative poetry.
The evening began with Dr. Satwinder Bains, SASI’s Director, warmly welcoming the audience. She shared the inspiring journey of SASI’s folk music project, developed as part of the South Asian Canadian Digital Archive (SACDA). Dr. Bains gave special recognition to Dr. Madhu Jawanda, a family physician from Surrey, whose vision sparked this project. Dr. Jawanda reached out to SASI last fall, hoping to highlight the talents of elderly South Asian artists. With the support of Dr. Jawanda, SASI connected with a group of South Asian elders, primarily her patients, to begin documenting their musical legacies.
As part of the initiative, the SACDA team under the vibrant leadership of Thamilini Jothilingam – Digital Asset Archivist at SASI, in the spring and summer of 2024, recorded 10 artists performing more than 50 pieces of South Asian folk songs and poetry. These range from children’s play songs and Sufi poetry to marriage rituals and traditional folk stories. Recordings took place at various studios, including CIVL Radio at University of the Fraser Valley, the Civic Podcast Studio at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), and the Terry McBride Recording Studio at Vancouver Public
Library (VPL). Sadhikpreet Singh, SASI’s Reseach Assistant, spent numerous hours translating and editing the recordings for long-term preservation. As an artist himself, he also contributed to the collection with his own music and songs.
“CIVL exists to provide the community of the Fraser Valley with the facilities and platform to explore and engage with music, culture, storytelling, and history in a way that elevates our connections with one another and the material we share, artistically and philosophically.
As such, this project is a perfect fit for us, and an incredible opportunity to participate in celebrating South Asian arts and showcasing amazing local talent, in both professional and more family-oriented cultural practices. CIVL is always grateful for the essential work of SASI and its partners, and the Valley is so much richer for their labour!,” says Aaron Levy, the Executive Director at CIVL Radio.
The recordings will soon be uploaded to SACDA and the SASI YouTube channel, preserving them for future generations. Dr. Bains noted that this is just the beginning, with plans to expand the project by engaging more South Asian Canadian communities in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
Dr. Bains also expressed gratitude to the City of Abbotsford and the Culture Coordinator, Aaron Moran, for financially supporting the event as part of the city’s Culture Days program series.
An Evening of Mesmerizing Performances
The night’s first performer was Devinder Kaur Johal, an 88-year-old Panjabi poet whose life journey reflects resilience and creativity. Having emigrated from Panjab to England in 1965 and later to Canada in 1977, Johal worked tirelessly to support her family. It wasn’t until her 60s that she discovered poetry, finding solace in words and using them to explore themes of women’s empowerment, Sikhism, identity, and culture. Despite her late start, Johal has penned eight poetry collections and continues to inspire audiences with her evocative writing. Her performance was a beautiful testament to her indomitable spirit and artistic brilliance.
Next on stage was Harinder Saini, an accountant by profession but an artist at heart. Harinder’s love for music began at age five, and she has carried that passion throughout her life. From hosting radio and TV shows to performing traditional Panjabi folk tunes, Saini has dedicated herself to preserving the rich traditions of Panjabi 
music. Her performance, rich with Boliyaan, Suhaag, and other classic folk tunes, brought the audience to their feet, inviting them into multiple collective dance sessions. Through her family business, Raunkaan Events, Harinder is committed to keeping these traditions alive for future generations.
Following her was Daksh Kubba and his band, delivering a powerful set of heartfelt songs. Kubba, a New Delhi native and music composer, moved to Canada at 18 and has since carved out a remarkable path in the music industry. His band naQsh has shared stages with legendary artists like Junoon and Adnan Sami, while Kubba himself has performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics. In 2018, he left his corporate career to establish the Koobook School of Arts & Performance. His current work explores deep themes like inter-religious marriages, homophobia, and depression, and he is set to release his debut solo album Not Just a Singer soon.
Mohammad Rafi, Gurmukh’s musical journey started at a young age. After founding his band Musafir in India and performing over 500 shows, Gurmukh moved to Canada in 2022, where his creativity flourished in the country’s multicultural landscape. His voice, a perfect blend of traditional Panjabi melodies and contemporary sounds, had the audience spellbound. Gurmukh’s upcoming album Trapped promises to be a fusion of his Panjabi roots and modern musical elements, marking an exciting milestone in his career.
Finally, Gurmukh Singh took the stage and brought the evening to its climax. Raised in Amritsar and influenced by the legendary Mohammad Rafi, Gurmukh’s musical journey started at a young age. After founding his band Musafir in India and performing over 500 shows, Gurmukh moved to Canada in 2022, where his creativity flourished in the country’s multicultural landscape. His voice, a perfect blend of traditional Panjabi melodies and 
contemporary sounds, had the audience spellbound. Gurmukh’s upcoming album Trapped promises to be a fusion of his Panjabi roots and modern musical elements, marking an exciting milestone in his career.
A Celebration of Community
The event concluded with an open mic session, giving the audience an opportunity to share their own talents, followed by a delightful spread of food and chai. The evening not only celebrated the music and poetry of South Asia but also fostered a sense of community, bringing together people from different walks of life to appreciate the shared heritage and creativity of the South Asian Canadian diaspora.
SASI’s folk music project is more than just an archive—it’s a living testament to the power of art, culture, and history to connect generations. This enchanting evening of music and poetry was a reminder that cultures are alive, evolving, and continue to resonate deeply with those who experience it.
Ravi K. Basi, daughter of Devinder Kaur Johal, said, “you and your team planned an incredible, rich event that made us proud of our culture, history, past, present, and future. You brought Dr Jawanda’s vision of showcasing South Asian talent to life. Thank you for recording and digitizing the event so that South Asian performers can take their place amongst the wider Canadian landscape of music and artistry. Organizing this kind of program is not easy, navigating logistics, timelines, and unknown factors. Congratulations to SASI on a well-executed event. The artists touched our hearts. We could have listened to them for longer. And the fun factor was certainly there, there was shared laughter and camaraderie amongst the audience, the artists, and the organizers.”
The future plans for the project are to reach out to the diverse South Asian Canadian communities in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley to document further songs for long-term preservation. If you know anyone, in your family or friends network, please feel free to reach out to us at sacda@ufv.ca.