Gaane Gaane Shayan: Where activism meets harmony

Shayan is an activist at heart, and her music is known for its distinctive genre— 'protest songs'. Her passion for it was visible as she walked on the stage with her head held high, a Palestinian Keffiyeh hung around her neck, and took a moment to commemorate the martyrs of the July uprising.

Friday night (22 November) was a treat for fans of singer Farzana Wahid Shayan. After a two-year break, the artist returned to the stage with a solo show, winning hearts with her music.

The concert titled 'Gaane Gaane Shayan,' organised by Aajob Karkhana, took place at the National Art Gallery Auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

When it comes to Shayan, you can never quite separate the activist in her from the musician, which is why she dedicated her performance to all the martyrs of the July uprising.

"I'm not neutral. I stand with the oppressed, for justice and truth. Music is my language. I speak and express my feelings through it," elaborated Shayan.

Consisting of 19 songs, the show was divided into two segments. The first 12 songs were dedicated to contemporary issues, such as the struggles of indigenous minorities and women's rights. 

Before she began her performance, she spoke out to the crowd, boldly making her stances on social issues very clear. 

"I pray for the destruction of rapists and sexual abusers. I loathe those who take pleasure in belittling people of other religions, even in their thoughts. I declare a political war against those who oppose multi-party democracy,"she said.

With a guitar in hand, a harmonica around the neck, and a keyboard in front, the musician began the evening. 

Alongside her passion for activism and music, it also turns out that Shayan is a master storyteller. It seemed the perfect mix for someone whose aim was to spread a message.

She provided a little context behind each song through stories, making their messages clear as day.

'Let me tell you a story of a girl. She lived in the hills and spoke up for her community's rights," started Shayan. "One day, she was taken away by someone. For years, the case remained unresolved, and the trial never progressed. And then? She has never returned to this day. The girl's name was Kalpana Chakma."

Shayan's activism does not just stick to the borders of Bangladesh.

She included one of her famous songs, 'Meyera Raat Dokhol Kor', dedicated to Moumita Debnath–a trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College Hospital.

Her performance, as raw and emotional as ever, moved everyone in the room, including myself. The words, "Ei meye shon, ei raat ei bhor— jotokhani purusher, totokhani tor" (Listen, girl, this night, this dawn— is as much yours as it is a man's own), still echo in my mind. 

It seemed like the voices of the silenced— like Abrar Fahad who was murdered, garment workers denied fair wages, and the helpless people from far-off Palestine— all seemed to cry out through Shayan's voice.

I felt a silent awe spread across the gallery of 200 people. 

And even among these heavy topics, she managed to get a chuckle out of the audience through her satirical song 'Rani Ma', which calls on Sheikh Hasina to return home to face justice.

The second segment was a bit more lighthearted, focusing more on life, love, and separation. She concluded with one of her most popular songs, 'Ek Hariye Jawa Bondhur Shathe', which evokes memories of a lost childhood friend.

After an evening of listening to Shayan, one thing is clear; Shayan has created a new language for activism.