Territories of Knowledge
Spore hosts
Save the Date
Sangam: Who If Not Us?
Film screening, Performance, Program for Kids, Food and Live Music
24. July 2026
17.30-21.30
17.30-21.30
Save the Date
For free
For adults
in English/multilingual
In 2022, unprecedented monsoon rains and glacial melt caused catastrophic flooding in Pakistan. The flooding affected over 33 million people, resulting in widespread loss of life, homes, crops, and livelihoods. Just three years later, heavy rains again devastated communities across the country. Despite contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
This event marks the opening of Sangam – Confluence – Zusammenfluss, a new series by the collective Darya Dost ("Friends of the River"), which explores the relationships between rivers, climate change, memory, and communities in Pakistan and beyond. Rooted in ecological and social justice and collective learning, the series brings together artistic, cultural, and lived perspectives on environmental transformation and resilience.
The evening explores the floods in Pakistan and their ongoing consequences through various perspectives:
- The program begins with a performance by Rehmat Zafar. Her spoken-word poetry in Punjabi calls out to, and draws in, those watching in silence as floods become a seasonal fixture and heat waves devastate the remaining land and water.
- The performance will be followed by a screening of a documentary film (Urdu with English subtitles) by Nyal Mueenuddin and a subsequent discussion with the director. Through storytelling, moving images, and conversation, participants will encounter personal and collective experiences of environmental change, displacement, loss, and mutual care.
- The gathering will conclude with food and a live music performance by the Baluch Twins. They express the stories, culture, and realities of the Lyari community of Karachi through their music. Their songs blend Eastern classical, Sufi, and modern sounds, connecting memories and traditions with experiences of environmental loss and heartfelt love for their country and people. They will perform with Sultan, a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter based in Berlin. Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, Sultan has played the tabla for over ten years.
Visitors from the Pakistani diaspora, as well as anyone interested in climate justice, river ecologies, art, and community-led responses to environmental crises, are warmly invited to attend.
- Alongside the main event, a child-friendly program for ages 5 and above will run from 17:30 to 19:00, addressing related themes. Children will use painting to express their ideas about bodies of water while learning about the climate crisis and its impact on the waters that surround us.
The event is in English and Urdu (Film). The child-friendly program is offered in German. The Performances include elements in Baluchi and Urdu.
