Though we have seen plenty of literary, music and cultural festivals emerge in Pakistan in recent years, one that is of significant value and must be treasured is the Women of the World (WOW) Festival.
Though we have seen plenty of literary, music and cultural festivals emerge in Pakistan in recent years, one that is of significant value and must be treasured is the Women of the World (WOW) Festival.
Making its inaugural appearance in Karachi in the summer of 2016 and presented by the Southbank Centre and the British Council, the festival produced “in collaboration with the WOW curating partner trust that comprises of local organisations, artists and experts” was a celebration of women in Pakistan from all walks of life and the first WOW Festival to occur in South Asia.
Last year’s edition, held at the Beach Luxury Hotel, included artistes, activists, entrepreneurs, educationists, writers, mothers, daughters, sisters and wives and that same trajectory will be followed this time around as well, probably on a slightly bigger scale.
While details have not been announced, we know that the upcoming edition of WOW Karachi will take place in December and like last year, it will include a series of talks, workshops, mentoring, performances, visual arts open studios and more.
Shedding much-needed light on subjects like feminism, conflict in the city and women’s rights in the workplace, the first edition of WOW Karachi was both educating and engaging without being entrenched in dogmatic principles. Add to this the diverse set of performers (Zeerak Ahmed aka Slowspin, Nescafe Basement All-Girl group, Sounds of Kolachi) and participants/speakers (Sana Mir, Tina Sani, Zubeida Mustafa and many more) witnessed in 2016, we expect some reverie -inducing moments from the second appearance of WOW Karachi in December this year. Watch out.
