All-Night Concerts in War-Ravaged Myanmar

In war-ravaged Myanmar, all-night concerts called "zat pwe" are providing a sense of normalcy. These shows, which combine music, dance, and drama, run from approximately 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and are popular, with performances booked out for months. Artists like U Than Zaw Htwe (San Yay Moe) and U Chit Myo Htike (Phoe Chit) are leading these performances, offering entertainment and a sense of escape to audiences feeling "mentally suffocated" by the ongoing conflict that began five years ago. However, these concerts are also part of an effort by Myanmar’s military rulers to project an image of legitimacy amidst a civil war and widely criticized elections. The performances take place in locations like the outskirts of Yangon.