Will I ever be known as anything beyond ‘Urdu’ or Pakistani singer? Arooj Aftab triggers debate

Singer won a Grammy for Best Global Music Performance in 2021 for her song ‘Mohabbat’

Arooj Aftab sparked a debate on social media after expressing her frustration over being labelled solely as a ‘Pakistani’ or ‘Urdu’ artist. Aftab, who bagged a Grammy for her song Mohabbat (Also rendered by Mehdi Hassan), questioned whether artists of colour will ever be able to escape generic categorisation based on their heritage and not their music.

On Saturday, Aftab, took to Twitter, saying  “Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab, Urdu singer Arooj Aftab, Arooj Aftab’s amazing Urdu singing… like, it’s fine I guess? But can a person of colour musician ever just get to be without this tag to whatever someone else is presuming is our root or heritage? Yes, can I make contemporary music in peace?”

Pakistani singer arooj aftab…… Urdu singer arooj aftab….. arooj Aftab’s amazing Urdu singing… like. It’s fine I guess? But can a person of color musician ever just get to be without this tag to whatever someone else is presuming is our root or heritage

— arooj aftab (@arooj_aftab) May 26, 2023

Aftab's tweet drew a mixed response, reflecting a clash of perspectives on the issue. Some fans also empathised with her, acknowledging that regardless of her accomplishments, she would always be seen through the lens of her Pakistani heritage.

“Sister, you can spend your life trying to break the glass ceiling by abandoning your heritage/roots but in their eyes, you will never be anything but your heritage. so why not embrace it and achieve all you can and want to while carrying that tag?” wrote a user who encouraged her to embrace her roots, suggesting that the cultural tag could serve as a source of strength and motivation in her artistic journey.

sis you can spend your life trying to break the glass ceiling by abandoning your heritage/roots but in their eyes you will never be anything but your heritage. so why not embrace it and achieve all you can and want to while carrying that tag? https://t.co/dwpjlk2rXK

— its me. hi. im the problem, its me. (@thebigsadddd) May 27, 2023

A user, who related to Aftab’s stance, wrote, “This effort against being labelled and boxed is familiar.”

However, there were others who questioned Aftab's stance, implying that if she truly disliked being associated with her Pakistani roots, she should consider altering her repertoire. They argued that Aftab's choice to cover Urdu ghazals performed by iconic Pakistani artists contributed to the association she wished to distance herself from.

A user questioned her statement. “Is it a presumption of your roots or heritage though? You are Pakistani and do sing in Urdu too. If you're uncomfortable with representation, that's a different story but those identity markers can’t be denied,” they wrote.

Is it a presumption of your roots or heritage though? You are Pakistani and do sing in Urdu too. If you're uncomfortable with representation thats a diff. story but those identity markers cant be denied.

— Sarah (@SarahShah_85) May 27, 2023

“Wasn't her claim to fame being the first ever Pakistani artist to win a Grammy? People who never even heard her songs celebrated her for that. Now the tag is weighing her down?” asked a user.

“Hey bro, this is not cool, especially because you won a Grammy based on your rendition of Iqbal Bano’s classic,” wrote a user.

Hey bro, this is not cool, especially because you won a Grammy based on your rendition of Iqbal Bano’s classic 😂😂 https://t.co/k9iyeMhpDu

— Regena (@Regee5r) May 27, 2023

Another smelled “racial inferiority” from her tweet. “Big fan but are you ashamed of your roots and heritage or what? You literally won a Grammy by singing an Urdu heritage song. The racial inferiority dripping from this tweet is just unthinkable,” they wrote.

Big fan..but are you ashamed of your roots & heritage or what ?? Bro u literally won Grammy by singing an urdu heritage song ..the racial inferiority dripping from this tweet is just unthinkable. https://t.co/kn1oK5pbzU

— Hashim Shah (@HashimShahSyed) May 27, 2023

“I’m not familiar with her work but a quick Google search tells me that covering Urdu Ghazals, sung by old Pakistani artists, is her shtick. If she loathes being associated with the tags Pakistani and Urdu then maybe giving up nods to both in her performance will be very helpful,” suggested a tweep.

I’m not familiar with her work but a quick Google search tells me that covering Urdu Ghazals, sung by old Pakistani artists, is her shtick. If she loathes being associated with the tags Pakistani and Urdu then maybe giving up nods to both in her performance will be very helpful. https://t.co/jmqKNePDrQ

— Eurus (@Hexatiouz) May 27, 2023

Another user justified why Aftab’s tweet irked so many. “Love what you do but honestly, you’re complaining about the thing that put you on the map. If you want a label beyond that, earn it. You have an exemption now. Parlay it into non-ethnic creativity and win accolades. You can’t blame people for thinking you’re being ungrateful,” they wrote.

Love what you do but honestly you’re complaining about the thing that put you on the map. You want a label beyond that earn it. You have exemption now. Parlay it into non ethnic creativity and win accolades. You can’t blame people for thinking you’re being ungrateful.

— Habibullah Khan (@Huk06) May 27, 2023

Aftab, currently touring Europe and the UK, responded to the backlash, expressing her frustration at the accusations of being "anti-Pakistani." She clarified that she did not seek to “erase or disown her roots and heritage” but rather aimed to “push back” against the limitations of being solely allowed to exist within a specific cultural and linguistic context.

Oh fuckkk this tweet really awakened the “she’s anti Pakistani!!!” sentiment. Great. I’m not talking about erasing or disowning roots and heritage. while touring eu/uk at the moment, I feel like pushing back…

— arooj aftab (@arooj_aftab) May 26, 2023

“I feel like pushing back on being ONLY allowed to exist in a geographic and linguistic context. This makes it easy for them to other-ize, exclude us and overlook what is achieved, and to gatekeep/ glass wall what is further achievable,” she explained herself.

pushing back on being ONLY allowed to exist in a geographic and linguistic context. This makes it easy for them to other-ize, exclude us and overlook what is achieved, and to gate keep/ glass wall what is further achievable.

— arooj aftab (@arooj_aftab) May 26, 2023

It is important to acknowledge and appreciate Aftab's accomplishments, including her Grammy win, which showcased her talent and the richness of Pakistani music and Urdu language to a global audience. While her frustrations are valid to an extent, fans think it is crucial to strike a balance between embracing diverse cultural backgrounds and allowing artists the freedom to explore new territories and transcend predefined stereotypes.