Ahmad Nawab: A Dominant Force in Malaysia's World of Music
By Shazlin Hamzah, Paul Augustin
February 2025 FEATURE
PENANG-BORN AHMAD NAWAB was a towering figure in Malaysian music. Born on 6 April 1933, Ahmad was the first child of immigrant Pakistani musician, Nawab Khan Rana Khan, who had come to Malaya with the Indian Army, and subsequently joined a Bangsawan troupe. He later married a mixed Indian Penangite Juhara Bee Fakir Maidin and they settled in Penang.In an interview for the book Just For The Love Of It, Ahmad said his interest in the entertainment and music world began...
Shazlin Hamzah
is a research fellow with the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA). She just wrote a book with the title Wajah Malaysia Dalam Gurindam Lagu-lagu that explores the notion of nation branding vis-à-vis the role of patriotic songs from the 1950s-60s.
Paul Augustin
is the director of Penang House of Music, and founder and festival director of the Penang Island Jazz Festival.
