Shinning stars: Musical, artistic prodigies showcased

ISLAMABAD:

The vibrant ‘Children’s Literature Festival’, which informed and entertained thousands in the last two days, drew to a close at Lok Virsa on Saturday with two special programmes— ‘Child Folk Performers’ and ‘Child Artisans-at-Work’.

The former was a live folk cultural music performance featuring nine child folk artists at Lok Virsa’s Open Air Theatre.

Child singers included Wado and Gumbat from Umer Kot; Jehangir from Rohri; Zamin from Peshawar; and Ashir, Subhan Niazi, Khalid and Ali Haidar from Islamabad; along with child dholi (drummer) Ashfaq.

Ashir and Subhan are the great grandsons of the late folk legend, Tufail Niazi.

They sung popular Punjabi songs like ‘Lai Be Qadran Nal Yari Te Tut Gai Tarak Kerke’.

Zamin from Peshawar presented popular Pushto songs including ‘Bibi Shireeni.’

“The cultural performances of child folk artists reflect the true diversity of our country; it makes one proud of the richness we share,” said Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed. Child Artisans-at-Work featured twelve apprentices and siblings of established master artisans.

They included doll maker Ambreen Fatima; lacquer artists Rushna Faheem; truck artists Noor, Hussain, Tahir and Babar; Dua in embroidery work; Amir Gul and Aasima Bibi in basketry; Sajjad in Swati woodwork; Aneel in Sindhi handicrafts; and Ejaz in woodcarving.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2015.