Societal Events Report : The Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) and the Embassy of France in Bangladesh organised a two-day musical programme recently on the occasion of the Fête de la Musique (World Music Day) 2014 at the La Galerie of the AFD in the city’s Dhanmondi area. The highlight of this year’s Fête de la Musique was a special concert presented by world renowned French-Lebanese singer and songwriter Abaji, along with Bangladeshi traditional Baul musicians. Bangladeshi baul musicians who will be performing are- Rob Fakir Baul (main vocal), Baby Dewan (female vocal), Md Nazrul Islam (dhol), Shahidul Islam (flute), Shafiqul Islam (harmonium), Md. Shamim Mia (mondira), and Poran Fokir (khamak). Like previous years, students and teachers of French courses as well as other cultural workshops, including Western classical guitar, piano, and violin were presented a number of solo and group performances at the La Galerie of the AFD. Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival that began in France in 1982. The idea was conceived by French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, in 1981. Since then June 21 has been celebrated every year in more than hundred countries in Europe and over the world as the World Music Day. It takes place in the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere.
