From Life to Page
On September 23rd 2026, Hemani read a chapter: Crossing the Margins from her memoir: Writing in the Wound for Creative Non-Fiction Collective in Canada, shifting the conversation from how women endure and survive to the risks they take in pursuit of knowledge, possibility, and becoming.
The selected chapter recounts the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her Indian visa, her journey alone from Karachi to Mumbai, and the vulnerability and possibility of crossing a politically fraught border as a Pakistani woman conducting ethnomusicological research. In the chapter, that physical crossing ultimately becomes part of the memoir’s larger inquiry into recognition and belonging.
Listeners responded in real time to both the story and its language:
“‘Its edges humming with secrecy’ is a great line.”
— Lana Hall
“Love the image of ‘cool and sharp.’”
— Paolo Zinatelli
“Envelope… its edges humming with secrecy. 😊”
— Nancy D.
“Every step was a plea.”
— Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt
“They stood in silence.”
— Mark
“Harrowing obstacles. But you persisted. Great metaphors.”
— Donna Besel
“Beautiful language!”
— Alena Papayanis
“Powerful to end with the word ‘belonged.’”
— Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt
“Powerful, thank you for sharing.”
— L.E. Hudson
“Love the risk taking, Shumaila!”
— Angus MacCaull
“Thank you for bringing us into a new world! Beautifully written!”
— Sue N.
Upcoming events will be posted here. To invite Dr. Shumaila Hemani for a reading, workshop, or performance, please submit an event inquiry.
“Besides being a great writer, Dr. Shumaila Hemani has a remarkable ability to connect with a live audience. At both her in-person presentation for Action Dignity’s Echoes of Equity celebration and her online launch of her memoir, Writing in the Wound, she skilfully blended storytelling, music, and dialogue to create an engaging experience. Dr. Hemani invites reflection and inspires audiences to think differently about resilience, belonging, and the power of listening.”
— Barb Howard, Author of The Happy Sands (University of Calgary Press)
It was a pleasure to work with you Dr. Shumaila Hemani as a faculty member and friend on Semester at Sea. Your teaching of Soundscapes and Ritual: Musical Cultures of the World, brought exceptional expertise, creativity, and compassion to the classroom. Your teaching encouraged students to think critically while engaging deeply with music, culture, and global perspectives. When the voyage was unexpectedly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Shumaila, you demonstrated a level of resilience, adapting your teaching from an immersive shipboard experience to a fully remote classroom while maintaining meaningful student engagement. You approached unprecedented challenges with professionalism, creativity, and dedication to your students. Shumaila your presentation to our faculty was both intellectually rich and deeply moving, receiving a standing ovation from the Semester at Sea community of students, faculty, and staff. You combines academic excellence with authenticity, warmth, and a gift for connecting with diverse audiences through storytelling and dialogue. Shumaila, I wholeheartedly recommend you as a speaker, facilitator, and educator. Any organization seeking a presenter who can engage audiences with intelligence, empathy, and lasting impact would be fortunate to work with her.
— Gean Gloeckner, Former Dean, Semester at Sea
Shumaila is a vibrant, vital part of our community of mental health storytellers here at Recovery Diaries. Over the years, she has contributed two moving, vulnerable, exquisitely-crafted personal essays that explore complex issues related to trauma, immigration, the intense pressures and expectations of academia, and her own mental health struggles. I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing her on our podcast, “Recovery Diaries in Depth” for a conversation that was meaningful, thoughtful, and wide-ranging. Shumaila cares and thinks deeply about what she expresses and how, and her passion is matched only by her compassion.
—Gabe Nathan, G.N., Executive Director, OC87 Recovery Diaries
“I had the opportunity to attend two of Dr. Shumaila Hemani’s presentations at the Society for Ethnomusicology conference. Dr. Hemani has a remarkable ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity, depth, and authenticity. What makes her presentations especially memorable is the way she seamlessly weaves live performances from different vocal traditions—whether qawwali, Shah jo Raag, or the South Asian musical genre of khayal gayaki—into her spoken narrative. This integration of scholarship, music, and compelling storytelling creates a deeply engaging and emotionally resonant experience for audiences. She speaks with warmth, presence, and conviction, making complex ideas accessible while fostering a genuine connection with her listeners. I would highly recommend her as a speaker for academic, professional, and public audiences.”
—Noe Dinnerstein, N.D., Adjunct Associate Professor of Music at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, City University New York
I have known Dr Shumaila Hemani initially as a student on our Institute’s graduate programme, then as a doctoral scholarship recipient, and now as an alumnus of IIS. I had the pleasure of hearing Dr Hemani speak at The Institute for Ismaili Studies Alumni Meeting in Brooklyn, New York, in June 2013. Her presentation was different from the typical academic talk I had expected. She wove her scholarship together with lived experience and the sonic traditions of Sufism from Sindh (Pakistan), creating a presentation that was intellectually rich, deeply moving, and memorable. I remember her sharing her personal journey and it intertwined with her research. When she sang verses from the Shah jo Raag from the Sufi tradition, everyone present was completely absorbed. Her voice and storytelling brought the subject to life in a way that bridged scholarship, music, and human experience. Dr Hemani has developed the ability to communicate complex cultural and spiritual traditions with authenticity, warmth, and emotional depth. She does not simply present information; rather she invites people to listen differently, to reflect, and to connect across cultures through music and story. I am pleased to recommend Dr Hemani as a speaker, educator, and facilitator. Groups looking for a presentation that is intellectually engaging, artistically inspiring, and personally transformative will find her work useful and memorable.
—Shiraz Kabani, Head of Communications and Development, Instiute of Ismaili Studies
Archived
Artist Speak, Mount Royal University
Facilitated by Kenn Burima and ArtistSpeak at Trico Changemakers Studio, Mount Royal University.
Echoes of Equity, Action Dignity
Navigating life’s intricate fabric, choices unfold paths to the extraordinary, demanding creativity, curiosity, and courage for a truly fulfilling journey.
