14/09/2025
Niaz Hunzai (born 1986)
Multi-Instrumentalist Artist
Born in the picturesque Hunza Valley, nestled among the majestic mountains of the Karakoram, Niaz Hunzai has always been drawn to music. Despite being differently-abled since birth, he never let his disability hold him back from pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a professional musician.
Growing up, Niaz spent his days wandering the mountains with his shepherd friends, carrying with him the flute he had made himself out of an old water pipe. It was during these travels that his passion for music truly blossomed, as he played the flute alongside the shepherds in the breathtaking natural surroundings of Hunza.
As he grew older, Niaz knew he needed to take his musical aspirations to the next level. He left the serene valleys of Hunza and headed to the bustling cities of Pakistan, determined to become a professional musician. There, he received formal training from some of the country’s best flute and rubab players, working tirelessly to hone his craft and become a master himself.
Today, Niaz is a skilled musician, proficient in more than 18 traditional and modern instruments. In addition to performing, he has dedicated himself to teaching and mentoring, sharing his deep knowledge and love of music with students at prestigious institutions such as LUMS, LACAS, and LGS.
His career has taken him to international stages as well. Niaz has performed at TEDx LACAS, and delivered multiple live performances and cultural collaborations in Spain and Tunisia. His presence at global cultural festivals has earned him recognition as a cultural emissary, representing the music and spirit of Hunza and Pakistan on a worldwide scale.
A landmark achievement came when he was featured as the inspiration and subject of a Spanish book titled "La Vall d'Hunza", written by Lurdes Boix Llonch, director of the Museum of L’Escala in Catalonia. This collaboration began with an exchange at the Fête des Bergers in the Semmama Mountains in 2023, where Niaz was invited as a cultural representative from Pakistan.
