The 12th day of the 25-day Third World Culture Festival Karachi 2026 featured international artistic performances, cultural workshops, film screenings and theatre productions, bringing together artists from several countries at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi.
Organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, the day’s programme opened with a sculpture masterclass by renowned Azerbaijani sculptor Mushfig Heydarov for students of SOVAPA. He introduced participants to traditional and contemporary sculpture techniques.
Kenyan Artists Introduce Traditional Music
A music workshop titled “Music as Memory” was conducted by Kenyan artists Makadem and Adela. The session explored the history, structure and cultural traditions of the Nyatiti, a traditional musical instrument associated with the Luo community.
The artists explained that playing the Nyatiti was historically restricted to men, although women are now increasingly participating in and contributing to the musical tradition.
Music students and participants enjoyed traditional Kenyan melodies performed during the workshop.
President of the Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, expressed interest in Kenya’s traditional music and invited the artists to join the council’s residency programme.
Addressing Makadem and Adela, he said the council would welcome them for a two-week residency to train music students and collaborate with local musicians to develop new musical ideas.
International Films Screened
The festival’s film screening session featured short films from Iran, Canada, Germany, Ireland and Indonesia.
The selection included:
Iran: Endless Moment, Masculine Singular Addressee and Dotuk
Canada: The Colour of the Sound
Germany: Ladies and Gentlemen! and Inner Life
Ireland: Memories of the East
Indonesia: Meong!
French Dance Workshop and Two Theatre Performances
A special dance workshop was organised at Studio One by renowned French dance group Legiteam Obstruxion. Participants explored different dance techniques, contemporary styles and movement practices.
The 12th day also featured two theatre productions, “Almiya” and “A Stand-up Tragedy”.
The play Almiya explored the emotional bond between a mother and her child, focusing on separation, memories and regret.
Meanwhile, A Stand-up Tragedy, written by journalist, poet and fiction writer Peerzada Salman, featured Khizer Salman alongside the writer.
Presented under the title “Main Andha Ho Raha Hoon” (I Am Going Blind), the autobiographical performance drew on Peerzada Salman’s personal experiences, reflecting on his gradually deteriorating eyesight and the challenges he has faced in life.
German Performer Sara Angius Captivates Audience
The day’s programme concluded with a 45-minute performance titled “LONO” by German choreographer and performer Sara Angius.
Combining contemporary dance, physical theatre, puppetry and visual illusion, the performance explored human consciousness, memories and perceptions of the past and future.
Presented without dialogue, the production portrayed an unusual artistic relationship between a woman and a table lamp.
Angius’s distinctive performance captivated the audience and earned enthusiastic applause, making it one of the highlights of the festival’s 12th day.