Mappilappattu singer Nisar Wayanad dies in Dubai at 44

Nisar Wayanad, a celebrated exponent of Mappilappattu—the traditional Muslim folk music genre from Kerala—died while receiving treatment in Dubai. The artist had been hospitalised at a private medical facility in the Gulf emirate where he was being treated for fever.

Mappilappattu is a distinctive musical tradition rooted in Kerala's Malabar region, characterised by rhythmic percussion and poetic Urdu and Malayalam verses. Performers of the genre have long served as cultural custodians, preserving and presenting this heritage art form through performances and public engagement.

Wayanad's death marks a significant loss to the Mappilappattu community and Kerala's broader cultural landscape. Artists working in traditional forms have increasingly migrated to Gulf nations for economic opportunities, making the diaspora an important audience for such performances.

The artist's passing has prompted reflections within circles devoted to Kerala's folk traditions regarding the sustainability and transmission of such heritage art forms to younger generations.