KARACHI: An interesting workshop conducted by the Lamma Ensemble from the UAE on Saturday evening at the World Culture Festival (WCF 2026) educated and entertained the attendees in equal measure. The all-female group is represented by four talented young women: Tamara from Montenegro (piano), Janis from the US (double bass), Hana from Tunisia (qanoon) and Inas from Syria (percussion).
Tamara in her introductory speech said lamma in Arabic means gathering. The four artists have known each other for a long time. They have two more members who were not with them.
After that, they introduced their instruments to the students of music. Hana said the qanoon is a string instrument found in the Arab region. It has 78 to 81 strings. She also played the instrument, which sounded beautiful.
Inas, Janis and Tamara also talked about percussions, bass and the piano.
An Irish play titled Born of Normal Parents directed and acted by Murray Molloy attracted a good deal of attention of fun lovers at the council’s Jaun Elia lawn.
Done in the form of street theatre, Molloy first told the audience about himself and then engaged them in an exercise that warmed them to the occasion. He laced his address with humour. He then pulled out a pink toilet seat from his suitcase and tried to put his body through it. He showed that he was struggling with the stunt but actually went through the toilet seat pretty easily. It elicited a good response from the attendees.
Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2026
