Coke Studio Pakistan 11 Makes History With Transgender Performers
A new promo for season 11 features a diversity of musicians, including two trans women.
Coke Studio Pakistan 11 has released a new promo built around Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s legendary poem ‘Hum Dekhenge’. It features a musical rendition of the poem sung by the lineup of singers who will be appearing in the upcoming season. The theme of the promo is “One Nation, One Spirit, One Sound.” The trailer is being lauded online for featuring two transgender singers among a diversity of performers.
Along with well-known artists like Abida Parveen, Ali Azmat and Momina Mustehsan, the eleventh season of the long-running show is set to feature many folk and regional musicians as well. But what caught everyone’s attention in the promo is the inclusion of trans singers Naghma and Lucky.
Naghma and Lucky are seen mouthing the line “Khalq-e-Khuda... Jo main bhi hun aur tum bhi ho” (God’s creatures... which both of us are.)
It’s being seen as a statement from the curators of the show Zohaib Kazi and Ali Hamza for promoting inclusion and visibility of trangender individuals on a mainstream platform. This comes at a time when the trans community is seeing a lot of backlash from certain fractions of Pakistani society.
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It’is also being noted that the lineup features Chistian and Hindu Pakistanis as well, sending a powerful message.
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