Nirbhaya’s Women in Concert

Women in Concert is an annual musical event, for and by aspiring female musicians in Nepal. Promoting a safe and comfortable platform for female artists is the main objective to conduct the concert. Yearly, they discover new, local artists and bands from different parts of Nepal as in this male-dominated music industry, female artists are often diminished and every so often they are even demoralized from pursuing musical careers.

The Women In Concert Foundation was legally registered as an NGO in Jan 2014. The Registration was a step ahead and a big leap for WICF to enable it to work as an organization on Women's Rights issues which has always been their prime concern.

But sadly, because of the covid pandemic, the event was not conducted for the last 2 years. And this year they came with a bang and held the concert at Club Platinum with astounding female artists like Abhaya and The Steam Engines, Jasmin, Subheksha Rai Koirala, Kengal Mehar Shrestha, and Type III, Ashra and The Parables, Sajja Chaulagain, Megha, and The B.E.A.T.S.

The concert held on March 9, 2022, was hosted by the former Miss Nepal 2002, television host, social activist, and entrepreneur, Malvika Subba. In the presence of a group of dynamic ladies, the concert commenced. Hosting the show Subbha said, “Well, every night should be about being free but tonight is definitely about just being yourself. Don’t think about what people would say and be conscious, do what you want and enjoy.”

Under the guidance of Abhaya Subba, and a dedicated team comprising of both men and women, the participating artists performed in an environment that was free of exploitation and gender-based discrimination.

“Being a woman, we have to support and bring each other up. Gender equality is not about who’s superior, we love men, we want them side by side with us but definitely, in that process and journey, they should be with us and not always keep us behind. That’s the whole idea of Women’s day”, she adds.

Similarly, Abhaya Subba thanking all the women who were present in the show says that, “We should struggle together and support each other. Females have to rebel inorder to get more but rebelling doesn’t mean we don’t like men. We like men and we want them in our life but we also want to be treated equally.”

Subbha followed the event by interacting with the audience and they were given a gift hamper by Dabur Vatika shampoo. There were many dignitaries like former Miss Nepal 2016; Asmi Shrestha, model Aastha Pokhrel and so on.

Events such as Women in Concert help open doors to opportunities for women that are usually reserved for men, such as sound engineers, technicians, managers and security. They help in uplifting the local artists and bands in showcasing their talents.