By: Kamran Khamiso Khowaja
Eminent Sindh folk singer and social and cultural activist and pioneer of Lahooti Festival Saif Samejo took to his social media accounts on Sunday to pay homage to the Ismaili community for its services in promoting cultures prevalent across the world. He shared his experience of attending a week-long event of the Ismaili community titled Global Encounters, held in Dubai, where members of the Ismaili community from more than 35 countries attended to witness a blend of culture, performing arts, and sports. The event lasted from 20th July to 27th July in Dubai.
In his Facebook post earlier this week , he wrote, “A heartfelt tribute to the Ismaili community across the world and deep respect to their Imam and family. What they have built is not just a community but a civilization of grace, discipline, beauty, and boundless compassion. In Dubai Encounters, I witnessed it: Where faith met art. Where Tilawat echoed beside Gayatri Mantra. Where Bismillah flowed into Om, and not a single soul felt uneasy. Because in a space created by true visionaries, there is no fear of the other, only celebration of the whole.
“Pakistan, especially Sindh, could have been like this. This was you, once. But somewhere along the path, we traded our depth for noise, our mysticism for militancy, and our heritage for borrowed identities. We began fearing our own songs, our own scriptures, our own roots. The Ismaili community teaches us: You can be deeply Muslim and wildly pluralistic. You can be rooted in your tradition and still hold the world in an embrace. You can be faithful without being afraid.
“Dubai, a Muslim land, reminds us that when systems are just and hearts are open, religion doesn’t divide; it dances. The real problem is not religion. The real problem is a mind afraid of harmony. Until we learn to honor what’s ours – Tilawat, Granth Sahib, Bhajans, Mantras, Kalams – we will remain loud in speeches but silent in soul. It’s time to return, to reclaim the forgotten symphony of Sindh, where love was the language, and divinity wore many names.”
The Global Encounters event was designed following the directions issued by the late His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th Spiritual Leader of the Shia Ismaili Community, under the title of Jubilee Games in 2016.
When contacted, Saif Samejo said that the contributions of the Shia Ismaili Community and their spiritual leader were commendable. The week-long event attracted 50,000 members of the Shia Ismaili Community from across the world, besides government officials from the UAE.
The event featured cultural events, musical performances, games, exhibitions, panel discussions, and musical performances by singers from different parts of the world, including India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Kenya. The event was jointly inaugurated by Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Prince Ali Muhammad Aga Khan, and UAE Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nayan Al Nayan Mubarak. The event commenced with a message regarding Importance of diversity and Culture from Shah Rahim Al Hussain The Aga Khan V.
