Dhaka sways to music of the roots

The third edition of the Dhaka International Folk Festival opened in the capital last night to a jam-packed audience, who were treated to thoroughly entertaining performances by musicians from different parts of the world and local artistes alike.

The biggest applause was reserved for the night's final performer Papon, the celebrated Indian singer hailing from Assam. With his sonorous baritone, the singer sang songs from his native land, as well as from other Indian regions such as Rajasthan and Punjab, and even a Nepalese song. An energetic crowd sang along from his very first song “Dinae Dinae” to other hits such as “Tere Bin Nai Lagda” and “O Megh”, dancing and making merry under the open sky of the Army Stadium on a cool November night.

Earlier in the evening, Bauliana, a group of artistes emerging from the musical talent show Magic Bauliana, opened the festival, performing two popular folk songs of Lalon Shah and Hason Raja. They were followed by reputed Bangladeshi folk singer Fakir Shahabuddin, whose authentic rendition of folk songs from various regions, including Maizbhandari songs and songs of Shah Abdul Karim got the audience on their feet.

Eminent Brazilian composer-singer Mauricio Tizumba and his sextet (six-piece band) presented the most entertaining performance of the first half of the programme. With his back-up musicians all playing various kinds of percussion instruments, Tizumba brought the exuberance of pulsating Afro-Brazilian beats that resonated superbly with the audience. The language being totally foreign did not stop the spectators from dancing and singing along to the chant-like songs.

The opening ceremony followed, where Finance Chairman of Sun Communications and Square Group Anjan Chowdhury, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon, Dhaka Bank Managing Director and CEO Syed Mahbubur Rahman and eminent singer-researcher Indramohan Rajbangshi joined chief guest Finance Minister AMA Muhith on stage.

In his speech, Anjan Chowdhury thanked the prime minister, the army, law enforcement and security personnel for supporting and making the festival possible.

“Music runs in the blood of Bangladeshi people; they sing when they go fishing, farming, doing their daily chores,” AMA Muhith said in his speech. “Culture and taste is something that must be acquired and at a festival like this, where we get to hear the music of our roots and folk music from around the world, is significant in developing a cultured mind,” he said.

The Dhaka International Folk Festival, presented by Meril, powered by Dhaka Bank and organised by Sun Communications, continues today and tomorrow, featuring an array of performers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Iran and Mali.