LONDON: The South Asian Festival 2024, held at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, was a vibrant celebration of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of South Asia. The event, organized by Akram Kamihani Voice of South Asian Art and Literature London, attracted a distinguished audience and featured a lineup of prominent figures from the literary and cultural spheres.
The festival, which has become a cornerstone for celebrating South Asian culture in the UK, was widely praised for its success in bringing to life the traditions and contemporary voices of the region. The Bloomsbury Theatre was abuzz with energy as attendees enjoyed an array of performances, discussions, and artistic expressions that showcased the vibrancy of South Asian heritage.
Among the notable attendees were renowned poets Iftikhar Arif and Sulaiman Akhtar, TV star Saba Hameed, journalist and anchorperson Mazhar Abbas, and human rights advocate Harris Khalique, who traveled from Pakistan specifically for the event. The festival also saw participation from doctors, professors, academics, journalists, and social personalities.
One of the highlights of the festival was the seminar dedicated to the lives and works of influential figures in South Asian literature and journalism. The discussion panel included Javed Soomro, a renowned broadcaster from BBC London, and Italian scholar Professor Francesca Orsini, who specializes in South Asian literature and is a Professor of Hindi and South Asian Literature at SOAS.
They were joined on stage by notable personalities such as Afzal Butt, President of the Pakistan Federation of Union Journalists, poet Anjum Raza, and Jami Chandio, Executive Director at the Center for Peace and Civil Society.
The seminar offered insightful conversations on the legacies of late literary giants such as Mir Taqi Mir, Qazi Nazrul Islam, and Hameed Akhtar (father of Saba Hameed). These discussions not only honored their contributions but also explored their lasting impact on South Asian literature and journalism.
The festival also featured attractive performances of classical Sufi music, presented by acclaimed artists including Sanam Marvi and folk artist Shakeel Awan. Their performances provided a musical backdrop to the festival.
The event was attended by Cllr Tariq Dar MBE, Mayor of Brent and Chairman of the Pakistan Community Centre London, who expressed his support and admiration for the festival’s efforts to highlight and celebrate South Asian culture in such a dynamic and engaging manner.
