Women Wide Awake is a collection of stories, poetry, and visual art exploring folklore from the region of Sindh, Pakistan. This multi-genre book features the stories of seven women, sea monsters, mystical saints, and more. It explores themes that have resonated with people for centuries, including courage, strength, defiance, and love. Two sisters build a labyrinthine palace to test their suitors. . .a woman swims across a treacherous river at night to meet her forbidden lover. . . a bartendress makes a grave mistake. These folktales have persisted across generations through oral storytelling and song. Sculptures created with reclaimed materials including sari fabric, wedding invitations, dried flowers, shells and bones accompany each story.
Women Wide Awake is a collaborative collection as part of Reth aur Reghistan, a multidisciplinary arts project by Pakistani sisters, Manahil and Nimra Bandukwala.
Reth aur Reghistan started in 2019, and has received funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, City of Ottawa, and Mississauga Arts Council. Find out more at sculpturalstorytelling.com.
About the Author: Manahil Bandukwala (she/her) is a poet and visual artist. She is the author of MONUMENT, and many chapbooks. She enjoys working collaboratively, and in addition to Reth aur Reghistan, frequently collaborates with other writers, musicians, and artists. She holds an MA in English from the University of Waterloo, and is Coordinating Editor for Arc Poetry Magazine. Her work can be found on her website, manahilbandukwala.com.
Nimra Bandukwala (she/her) is a visual artist and maker of crafts using foraged and found materials. More recently, she has been integrating earth pigments and natural dyes into her practice while exploring stories and histories of these materials. She is a recipient of multiple arts grants from Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts. Nimra has facilitated community-engaged workshops with folks of all ages and abilities in schools and community-based settings. Her work can be found on her website, nimrabandukwala.com and on Instagram at @nimrabandukwala.art
