The World Culture Festival Karachi 2024 recently kicked off with a bang in the largest city in southern Pakistan, treating the crowd to mesmerizing musical and dance performances. The event brings together over 250 artists from 40 countries, including South Africa, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Rwanda and Pakistan.
Pakistani music icons Mumtaz Sabzal and Farhan Rais captivated the audience on the opening night, along with a group of other musicians. “They are true legends. Pakistan’s opening performance was mesmerizing. We are looking forward to this great show,” said Zabad Anwar, a visitor who attended the first night of the festival.
Sahib Pashazade, an Azeri musician, noted that the event represents a valuable opportunity for collaborations between artists. “We will return in the future to showcase Mugham music and dance from Azerbaijan,” he announced.
Amid global turmoil and violence, events such as this foster unity and help promote a positive image, highlighting the importance of cultural festivals, as Pakistani author Peerzada Salman has pointed out.
The festival will continue for a month and will feature plays and major music concerts. International artistic encounters foster dialogue between cultures and strengthen ties between peoples, providing an essential platform for celebrating our cultural diversity and shared humanity. Let us raise our hearts and minds to celebrate this space of sharing and discovery, where cultural boundaries are blurred, and music and dance from all backgrounds resonate in universal harmony.