Photo: Messenger
On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Sampriti Fest 2025 was celebrated in Birmingham, UK. A wonderful meeting of different languages and cultures of the world organized by Purbanat and Sampriti Concert UK. This celebration was held from 4 pm to 7 pm at the traditional The REP Theatre in Birmingham on February 22.
Children, teenagers and artists from Bangladesh, various European countries and African countries participated in it. Presenting by Risna Haque, the event was addressed by Clare Starmer, Culture Services Manager, and Charlene Carter James, Partnerships and Development Manager, on behalf of Birmingham City Council. An animated documentary was shown at the beginning of the event on the background of the language movement and the recognition of International Mother Language Day. Murad Khan, CEO of Purbanat, thanked the guests, Birmingham City Council, and The Rep Theatre for their support in organizing such an event.
At the event, children and artists from Bangladesh, Greece, Latvia, Bosnia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, and Tanzania presented dances, songs, children's rhymes, etc. in their own country's languages, retaining their culture and traditions. The traditional and colorful costumes of each country colored the entire auditorium in a different atmosphere.
The two youngest participants participated for Latvia. I asked Lita, the mother of the two youngest children, what was the reason for taking such young children to participate in this event? The mother said, I participated with my children, because if they are familiar with the art and culture of different countries at this age, it will be embedded in their minds, they will learn to love other cultures, and I believe they will grow up to be beautiful people.
Seeing the artists' performances, I felt that art has no specific country or border, this is true. This arrangement has brought everyone together on one stage, the distance of language cannot create any barrier there. Music and dance have their own power.
I asked a Bosnian girl sitting in the front chair if she knew about International Mother Language Day? The fairy-like girl said, "I learned this history by coming here today. I am very happy that I have learned about the languages, songs and dances of other countries."
Two Tanzanian artists, like Bangladeshi bauls, came on stage together, performed their folk music with a musical instrument similar to the khanjan, requested the audience to match their voices with their songs, when they sang the two lines in the last song with the audience, "Aye Mama, Ena Panda Mama". At the end of the program, I asked what these two lines meant, he said it meant "Ma Ami Toke Bhalobo".
The last performance was a Bangladeshi dhamail, all the participants crossed the borders of the country and the continent and got involved in that dhamail, which was really charming. It seemed that music truly has no language. Everyone became intoxicated by the rhythm of the same song. International Mother Language Day truly takes on an international form on the same stage.
Purbanat director Rajib Jebtik delivered the closing speech at the program.
Messenger/Tushar
