WOW Bangladesh Festival explores women’s identity, memory through creative expression

DHAKA, Sept 26, 2026 — The WO I MAN: The WOW Fest brought artists, cultural practitioners, young people and community members together in Dhaka on Friday to explore women’s lived experiences, identity and social expectations through dance, dialogue and creative expression.

Supported by the British Council and produced by Shadhona and Nrittoshilpi Foundation Bangladesh under the WOW (Women of the World) Bangladesh 2026 programme, the festival was held at ALOKI, Dhaka.

Held under the theme “Remembering Memories, Reclaiming Bodies,” the festival examined how women experience, navigate and challenge social expectations through movement, storytelling and collective artistic practice.

The programme began at noon with exhibitions, participatory installations, a creative marketplace and food stalls. Visitors also contributed to Bohurekha, an evolving participatory artwork by artist Ishrat Rouf, sharing reflections on memory, identity and lived experiences.

The afternoon programme featured performances and presentations addressing bodily autonomy, childhood, social expectations, identity and belonging.

From 4pm, audiences watched four ensemble dance-theatre productions exploring women's participation in public life, gender norms, power structures, displacement, resilience and collective action.

The productions included “Women's Politics and Women in Politics,” focusing on patriarchy and feminism; “Inside the Line,” exploring capitalism, consumerism and the female body; “Did God Say These Things?”, examining faith, feminisms and ritual politics; and “After the Silence,” addressing war, conflict, migration and feminism.

A photographic exhibition titled “From Score to Stage” also documented the participants’ creative journey and the collaborative process behind the festival.

Lubna Marium, artistic director of Shadhona, said the current situation in Bangladesh had not diminished her optimism about women's ability to assert themselves.

“As you must know, a lot is happening in Bangladesh right now. Still, I have always remained very optimistic because we, as women, are far from disempowered; we have always known how to fight back,” she said.

“We remain grateful to the British Council for supporting our efforts as we still have a long journey ahead of us,” she added.

The British Council said the festival reflected its focus on supporting women and girls, encouraging youth participation and creating spaces for dialogue, leadership and creative expression through arts and culture.

Through performances, exhibitions and community participation, the festival sought to use arts and culture as a platform for dialogue and to amplify diverse voices while encouraging a more inclusive creative sector.