Print

    The I Am Karachi Music Festival 2015: Introducing a Hopeful Era

    Written by: Sadeem Shaikh and Madiha Shekhani
    Posted on: August 10, 2015 |

    Alicia Dias and Band on Stage

    The first ever I Am Karachi Music Festival attracted hundreds of ecstatic Karachiites at Port Grand this past weekend. The two day event was organized by Music Dance Art (MAD) School and Fuzon, together with support from the I Am Karachi Consortium. Under the direction of MAD School co-founders Nida Butt and Hamza Jafri, the festival sought to bring together various underground musicians and other popular bands onto the same platform. Musical performances on two separate stages featured enthusiastic artists exclaiming their support for a peaceful and prosperous Karachi. ‘This Festival serves another important purpose’, said Ali Junejo, one of the many Consortium members responsible for this grand event. With many public spaces previously used for the arts lost in the midst of terrorism and extremism, Junejo was keen on explaining the importance of ‘reclaiming these spaces’ for the common good.

    Faraz Anwar in his Heavy Metal Performance

    Faraz Anwar in his Heavy Metal Performance

    After passing through it’s clustered gates, one had to get in a queue to reach the Port Grand entrance. The Modern stage, featuring artists with Western musical orientations, was conveniently set up in the central courtyard and continued to attract a significantly larger audience throughout the show. The Traditional Stage demanded a longer walk, as it was set up towards the rear of the venue. In order to view performances on both stages, one would find people rushing from one stage to the other in between acts as well.

    Faraz Anwar in his Heavy Metal Performance

    Humera Channa on the Traditional Stage set up

    With a brightly varied audience anxiously glancing towards the Modern Stage, the show was underway with an underground Indie band called Janoobi Khargosh. Many similar acts followed, equally driving the audience mad with wild music fervor. Natasha Humera Ejaz and Alicia Dias, two young and promising musicians stole the first half of the show with their powerful and soulful voices. Singles by Natasha Ejaz, such as ‘Hum Bhagay’ and ‘Till the End of Time’ were wildly popular amongst the audience, as one could find many heads swinging to the music. Sikander Ka Mandar, a local Roots Rock band brought a different spark on stage, with their melodic rhythm patterns and catchy baselines captivating specifically the youth in the audience. Performances by Aamir Zaki and Mauj led the viewers in to frenzy, with Zaki’s ‘Mera Pyaar’ causing some serious commotion in the stands. Shehzad Roy’s ‘Laga Rahay’ and Jimmy Khan’s cover of Sajjad Ali’s ‘Kir Kir’ continued to entertain the crowd, bringing a unique Punjabi taste in to the playlist. While a number of artists ensured ethnic dialect in their lyrics, there was also good news for heavy metal enthusiasts. Faraz Anwar’s breathtaking guitar licks caused a significant number to head bang carelessly, resulting in a few concerned glances from the aged members of the audience.   

    Mai Dhai and Band

    Mai Dhai and Band

    The traditional end of the festival jumped to a start as the very enthusiastic host had the audience fervently chant 'I Am Karachi'. Under the banner of uniting for peace, music began to flow in an attempt to reclaim the resilient city with its traditions and heritage. The opening performance embodied the much adored genre of folk music, presented by the All Star Folk Ensemble, featuring well-known artists such as Babar Khanna, the dhol maestro from Coke Studio Singers Ali Safeer and Latif Ali Khan were also part of the performance. The audience swayed along with the riveting rhythm of the tabla as Safeer sang in praise of the famed saint Shahbaz Qalandar, the epitome of Sindhi folk. Tributes were also paid to several legendary personalities such as Ghulam Ali Khan, Tufail Niazi and Mehdi Hassan, who embody traditional eastern music. The audience was particularly moved by the flute extraordinaire from the Mekaal Hasan Band, Ahsan Pappu. His perfectly articulated and effortless solos left everyone mesmerized. Elderly and young alike merrily tapped their feet and clapped along as many relatable tunes such as Lathay Di Chaddar were played.

    Qawal Najmuddin Saifuddin and Brothers

    Qawal Najmuddin Saifuddin and Brothers

    Taking the audience back to simpler times, Shazia Bano sang all-time classics such as ‘Allah Hi Allah Kiya Karo’ and ‘Chaandni Raatein. Under the enchanting spell of these talented musicians, the evening perfectly personified the eastern or ‘traditional’ feel, the kind that evoked a whiff of nostalgia over everyone. The highly evocative genre of Qawalli has been popular across generations, creating intense auras of spirituality. Performances by Qawal Najmuddin Saifuddin & Brothers and Fareed Ayaz Abu Mohammad left qawalli enthusiasts in a trance. As artists presented their renditions of transcendent qawalis such as ‘Mun Kunto Maula’, Amir Khusroe's ‘Naina Milaike’ and ‘Duma Dum Mast Qalandar, the audience passionately raised their hands in praise.

    Performances at the I am Karachi Music Festival

    Bringing the raw and unique sound of Rajasthani Folk to the stage, Mai Dhai and her band injected a rather exotic aura in to the evening and swept the audience off their feet. The set up incorporated instruments and genres that represent traditional music. The artists, each in their own creative manner, presented their renditions leaving the audience wanting more. The theme of reclaiming the present with the golden past recurred through each performance, as the delightful audience hummed one famous tune after another. The highlight of the traditional line-up, the legendary Pakistani singer Humera Channa, was also warmly welcomed on to stage. In response to one of her renowned songs from Coke Studio, ‘Ambwa Talay, the audience repeatedly admired and clapped to the finesse with which she tackled the hardest of notes. The enchanting sound of the instruments, and the flawless quality of her voice proved to be the perfect end to the festival.

    Almost eight months of hard work, dedication and undying willpower paid off well for the organizers of the event. Whether it was the soothing tunes from the Modern Stage or the resounding performances at the Traditional one, hundreds of Karachiites took to Port Grand to support the peaceful cause, coming together as a united whole under the enlivened banner of ‘I Am Karachi’.


    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