ISLAMABAD: Lok Virsa on Tuesday renamed a hall after legendary folk musician Mai Bhagi, to acknowledge her contribution to Sindhi folk music and to mark International Women’s Day.

The ceremony featured a musical performance by emerging folk musician Shamo, who is from Dewan Laal, Sanghar, in Sindh.

Shamo sang eight songs in various languages, including Marwari, Sindhi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu and Seraiki, surprising many in the audience. She was accompanied by her father, who taught her how to sing, on the manjira.

Shamo began her performance with a bhajan, a Hindu religious song, in Marwari, followed by the Seraiki song Wah Wah Guzraan Faqeeran Da.

When she began singing songs once performed by Mai Bhagi, many audience members began to dance along. Although Shamo has performed at a local level, this was her first national-level performance.

MNA Ramesh Kumar, who attended the ceremony, said such events were a message for extremists in the country.

“I am amazed to hear such a talented young singer from a remote area. Our country has immense hidden talent but there is a need to find that hidden talent and encourage them. Such programmes are the best platform for artists like Shamo, who otherwise cannot afford to present their talent at the national level,” he said.

Noorul Ain, who was in the audience, said Mai Bhagi had come alive in the form of Shamo. “She has a melodious voice like a nightingale, with strong grip on the sur. It is commendable how she is promoting our culture in many languages. Such singers are our hope to pass our culture and traditions to our next generation,” she said.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Dr Fouzia Saeed said: “This is a tribute to the services of Mai Bhagi, which she gave to the folk music of Sindh for 20 long years, entertaining millions not only in Pakistan but across the world.”

“It is unfortunate that women are disappearing from folk music and dance, but Lok Virsa is making every possible effort to provide an enabling environment to talented artists like Shamo,” she added.

A short documentary on Mai Bhagi was also screened at the event, which noted that she highlighted her local problems and issues in her music.

According to background information provided at the ceremony, Mai Bhagi was born Bhag Bhari to a family of singers in Thar, and she was discovered while performing at a wedding in Karachi in her 30s. Even though she went on to perform on national television, she was rooted to Thar and promoted her language and folklore through her music. Mai Bhagi passed away on July 27, 1986, at the age of 66.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2017