‘This is a milestone’
Festival celebrates artistry of Ismaili Muslims
There are many who believe art is a universal language, one that transcends culture and class, language and geography — much like faith.
Houston’s Ismaili Muslim community is hoping to blend these two universal practices by joining a worldwide celebration of the 60th year of Aga Khan’s tenure as the 49th hereditary imam, its spiritual leader.
Art — in all forms — will be used to commemorate the anniversary.
The international Jubilee Arts celebration will bring actors, painters, architects, filmmakers, poets, musicians and comedians together at festivals across the globe.
In Houston, a two-day showcase of the arts is in the works. The free event will be 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 25 at downtown’s Marriott Marquis, 1777 Walker.
Omar Samji has spent the past few months collecting works of art from members of the local Ismaili community.
He said a call to artists went out in October, inviting individuals working in a variety of media to join the event.
The weekend is organized around three events — a film festival, an art exhibition and a talent showcase featuring dance, music, spoken word and performance art.
“We’re not rejecting art,” Samji said. “We’re looking to be inclusive.”
Ismaili Muslims belong to a culturally diverse community residing in more than 25 countries. As part of the Shia branch of Islam, they are focused on improvement of self and society, building peace and sharing resources to foster community. The Ismailis are estimated to include 20 million individuals, making the community the second largest within the Shia branch of Islam.
The Ismailis have a 1,400year history. They trace a succession from Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. The followers of Ali, or Shia, already were established during Muhammad’s lifetime and believed that his legacy could only rest in a member of his family.
When the Shia branch later divided, the Ismailis followed Imam Jafar as-Sadiq’s eldest son, Ismail, who is their namesake. The group continues to follow the hereditary succession from Ismail to their current Aga Khan, who is the 49th imam in direct lineal descent from the Prophet Muhammad.
The current Aga Khan took office in 1957, leading the Ismaili communities pioneered by his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mohammed Shah Aga Khan III.
The arts celebration drew around 650 entries.
Samji said attendees will enjoy one-act plays, songs, dance numbers and standup comedy, in addition to a selection of movies and fine art pieces.
Jubilee Arts festivals also are planned in a number of cities in the U.S., including Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Orlando and San Francisco. Samji said there were more than 2,500 entries nationwide.
The best pieces from around the country will be showcased at a national event in Los Angeles at the end of March.
Similar national festivals will be held in 20 countries around the world. An international event, bringing together the top entries from participating countries, will be held during the summer.
All of the events are organized by volunteers.
Houston volunteer Afshi Charania Merchant was stunned by the high number of Ismaili artists participating in the local festival.
“There are aspiring and accomplished artists participating,” she said. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the amount of talent in the community. Some of it was hidden talent.”
Charania Merchant said some applicants told her they were even surprised at the work they were able to create for the festival.
“Within themselves, they found this untapped talent that they didn’t know they had,” she said. “This event helped people develop their potential.”
Event organizer Ambreen Lakhani said that she has met people from all ages, cultures and backgrounds.
“One of the strongest strengths of the Ismaili Muslim community is its cultural diversity,” she said. “My understanding and appreciation for this diversity has been broadened in so many ways by being involved in this project.”
Lakhani also is impressed with the variety of art she has encountered.
“My team and I have seen so many expressions that we would never have personally engaged with outside of the festival,” she said. “From digital imagery to built environments, to edible arrangements and wearable art, art really is unbounded — and that’s what the Jubilee Arts Festival offers members of the Ismaili community and their family members of other faiths.”
Samji said one of the goals of the festival is to connect creative types in the Ismaili community.
“We have a responsibility to encourage and facilitate and really nurture an environment for artists,” he said. “Let’s create a system where they can support one another.”
A broader mission is to create more events to showcase the artists locally.
“It’s not intended to be a one-off,” he said. “It’s really meant to create a groundswell around the artists and engage and develop artists in the community. It’s looking at the richness of the arts.”
The Houston festival also is a celebration of the Ismaili population becoming more established in the city, Samji said.
“This is a milestone in a sense,” he said. “We’re not just looking at being educated, functioning members of American society, but looking at becoming artistic and cultural contributors as well.”
He said 25 or 30 years ago, the Ismaili community was comprised of new immigrants still settling into Houston. A couple generations later, they are ready to share and celebrate their culture with the rest of the city.
“It’s an expression of our identity,” Samji said.
For information, visit https://the.ismaili and click on “Diamond Jubilee.”