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    Creative Karachi Festival 2016 - A Tribute to the Vision of Sabeen Mahmud

    Written by: Zoha Rizwan
    Posted on: April 26, 2016 |

    CKF 2016 at a glance (photo credit: T2F)

    The Second Floor or T2F – as it is more popularly known – gave the city of Karachi a whiff of fresh air amidst the scorching heat wave through the Creative Karachi Festival, held at Alliance Française on 23rd and 24th April. This second offering was dedicated to Sabeen Mahmud, the visionary founder of CKF and the director of T2F, who passed away in April 2015. The first festival, held in December 2014, was Sabeen’s attempt to create a platform for aspiring artists from all over Karachi. This year’s festival promoted diverse artists ranging from satirical stand-up comedians and short film makers to rock bands and classical dancers.

    The festival kicked off on Saturday afternoon, with large crowds attending the various sessions despite the blazing Karachi heat. The Film Room was bulging with audience members during the screening of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Oscar-winning documentary, A Girl in the River. The screening was followed by an interactive session with the team behind the documentary, shedding light on the challenges faced during its shooting. The audience appreciated Chinoy’s efforts and expressed hope that this will encourage such bold and honest filmmaking in the future. Since the festival was focused on the promotion of emerging artists, an hour was dedicated to the screening of thesis films by university students, namely Gol Sa Pathar, Soch and The Light and The Little Girl. The untapped talent of these young artists was quite evident in the plot and direction of these short-films. Others included Lucky Irani Circus by Anam Abbas and City by the Sea by Mahera Omar.

    A session with satirical writer Nadeem Paracha, moderated by Farjad Nabi, was held in the Upper Gallery. The gallery echoed with laughter as artists read Nadeem’s pieces on Malala, the Spy Pigeon and ‘Facebook timeline of the 21st Century Pakistani celebrity’.

    Creative Karachi Festival 2016 - A Tribute to the Vision of Sabeen

    Later in the evening, a presentation was held by the Woman’s Action Forum on ‘Women Targeted in Pakistan’. A short clip of Sabeen was played, in which she stated, “You have to protect yourself from the doom and the gloom and newspapers...and the onslaught. People don’t feel safe. I have a very cavalier attitude towards fear – so maybe, you know, I don’t care. I just feel the time will come when the time comes”. Other targeted women remembered included Perween Rahman, Zahra Shahid Hussain, Benazir Bhutto, and Zille Huma Usman. Anis Haroon, a member of the Women’s Action Forum, explained its mission, while Nuzhat Kidvai recited a short poem in Sabeen’s memory. As the sun began to set, an enormous crowd enjoyed the breezy evening in the Main Stage area where Ali Gul Pir hosted a concert – a fusion of classical, rock and qawwali.

    The second day of the festival drew a large number of families. The Film Room hosted a large crowd at the screenings of A Daughter’s Lament by Danial Shah, Sapna: A Transgender by Ali Rizvi and Khamosh Pani by Sabiha Sumar.

    Creative Karachi Festival 2016 - A Tribute to the Vision of Sabeen

    (L) Bharatnatyam and Pushpanjali by Sheema Kermani and Leila, (R) Suhaee Abro performing a fusion of contemporary and classical dance

    However, the highlight of the day was Suhaee Abro’s Contemporary Dance in the Courtyard – a unique blend of contemporary and classical dance forms. The gifted young performer dedicated a special performance to Sabeen, with live vocals by Sara Haider. This was followed by a mesmerizing Bhartnatyam and Pushpanjali by the beautiful Sheema Kermani and her student Leila Khan, who also paid tribute to Sabeen by reciting an ode to the radical director of T2F.

    The musical evening commenced with a breakdance performance by Footloose, which was enjoyed by adults and children alike. The Qawal Troupe (Subhan Nizami and Brothers) performed the popular qawali, Man Kunto Maula. At 9:15 pm – the exact minute when Sabeen was tragically shot a year ago – the lights were turned off and a moment of silence was observed on the request of the current director and Sabeen’s close friend, Marvi Mazhar. At 9:51, the moment Sabeen left her loved ones on 24th April, 2015, the lights were turned off again to commemorate her demise. The concert resumed with Zoe Viccaji’s enthralling performance, followed by Sara Haider’s enchanting voice resonating in the Mainstage area.

    Creative Karachi Festival 2016 - A Tribute to the Vision of Sabeen

    Throughout the day, the Art Lane was abuzz with vendors selling unique items, including jewellery, paintings, truck art wall hangings, and special mugs and cups with T2F logos and Sabeen’s pictures. The Art Gallery showcased brilliant artwork by amateur artists, as well as veterans such as Amin Gulgee. An entire wall in the gallery was decorated on the theme, ‘Evolution of Pakistani Music Album Art’. Karachi’s Girls at Dhabas also endorsed the event by continuing their routine coffee conversations and a banner painting activity at the rooftop. The Food Court was an ensemble of satiating items, from home-made sorbets and khaosay, to parathas and pizzas.

    Creative Karachi Festival 2016 - A Tribute to the Vision of Sabeen

    The energetic Girls at Dhabas with their freshly painted banner

    In conversation with Youlin, Marvi Mazhar remarked that the Creative Karachi Festival was Sabeen’s gift to Karachi and its people – and that her duty as a director and a friend was to take it one step forward. She added that this year’s CKF aimed to draw together and promote as many artists and art forms as possible. This, in essence, was for the love of Sabeen and her brainchild, T2F.

     

    All images have been provided by T2F


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021