KARACHI: The 15th day of the World Culture Festival 2025 featured an open-mic session titled ‘Creative Freedom in Art’, attracting significant attention from participants.

Participants in the session included artists from Argentina, Hong Kong, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Croatia, France, Thailand, and Pakistan. Renowned Pakistani musician Ahsan Bari moderated the discussion, said a press release issued on Wednesday.

During the session, Argentine musician Diana Baroni remarked that with technological advancement, learning has shifted online, and humans are becoming increasingly dependent on machines. “We are slowly dying. We must unite to outsmart AI and bring discipline to change the world.”

Kenyan guitarist Komora said that AI is destroying human creativity. “What takes us eight months to create, AI produces in eight seconds. Art does not need AI, and whoever relies on AI is not an artist.”

15th day of World Culture Festival features film screening, Sindhi play Hojamalo and Urdu play Kuttay

Kenyan singer Liboi added that AI is affecting artists just as it affects ordinary people.

Croatian choreographer Dr Tina said that AI is taking away jobs and artistic identity: “I am a choreographer, and I do not take help from AI because it destroys creativity.”

Malaysian theatre coach Bella Rahim advised artists to trust their hard work instead of AI. “If AI tells you what you already know, leave it. We must stand united as a community.”

Kenyan visual artist Okamar Onesmus said human life is becoming mechanical. “We are drifting away from books. AI should be used for information, but its comparison is necessary.”

From the Kuwaiti group, Palestinian dancer Rawan Sameer Salamah said she had seen many artworks that lacked real emotion and story. Ahsan Bari expressed joy that artists from around the world were gathered under one roof, calling it a positive sign for the future of humanity.

The open mic session of international artists was followed by the screening of French Shorts, a dance and music workshop, the Sindhi theatre play Hojamalo, and the Urdu theatre play Kuttay.

The dance workshop was conducted by Kuwait’s LAPA Dance Company, attended by Arts Council President Mohammad Ahmed Shah, Dance Academy Director Mani Chao, Jahanzeb Shah, singer Arman Rahim, Palestinian artist Rawan Sameer Salamah and Croatian choreographer Dr Tina, who trained students in professional dance techniques.

During the session, Rawan Sameer Salamah raised the slogan “Free Palestine” and performed the traditional Dabkeh dance.

Participants showed deep interest in Palestinian culture and its dance of resistance.

Meanwhile, Hojamalo, written by Ayoob Gaad Lateef and directed by Ali Gul Mallah, featured Amjad Gul Soomro, Wahid Raza, Faheem Mughal (Pakhi), Laiba Baloch, and Ali Gul Mallah.

The story revolves around a middle-class man who avoids hard work but longs to be famous like “Jamali”. Pressured by his father’s taunts, he starts a YouTube channel and features his wife in songs, causing his father-in-law to take her away. When he attempts suicide, people rescue him, leading to reconciliation as the community celebrates by singing Ho Jamalo.

The day concluded with the Urdu theatre play Kuttay, directed by Muhammad Ali, featuring Rasheed Ahmed, Zubair Baloch, Mati Mukhtlif, Faisal Khaliq, Ali Raza, Bharat Kumar, and Abdullah Dar. The play is a socio-political satire portraying the instincts of power, greed, and survival within humans. It highlights how oppressive systems crush humanity, forcing people to compromise their dignity and values merely to survive, exposing the ongoing struggle between human beings and the systems that govern them.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2025