“a committed, euphoric international coalition.” Bio Founded in 2011 by Egyptian ethnomusicologist Mina Girgis and Ethiopian-American singer Meklit Hadero, the Nile Project is one of the tightest cross-cultural musical collaborations in history. Working to raise awareness of the entire Nile River basin as an ecosystem, the 27- member Nile Project collective hail from all along the great river that connects 11 countries and over 400 million people—a region that has been marred by political and ecological conflicts—from its sources beyond Lake Victoria to its delta in Egypt.

Resonant harps and from up and down the river have learned new musical modes, while buzzing timbres and ingenious polyrhythms support vocals in more than 10 languages. Instruments that parted ways millennia before are reunited and pushed into new places. Love songs have crossed geographic and linguistic barriers to forge new, close friendships. The Nile Project’s collaborative model is a blueprint for a new way to organize the Nile.

In January 2015, the Nile Project embarked on a 4 month US tour performing 50 concerts with stops at the Lincoln Center, the United Nations and residencies at 30 universities. Using music to spark cultural curiosity and engage audiences, the Nile Project encourages them to feel connected to the river and to explore new approaches to its large- scale problems. In an evolving series of interlocking programs that spring from the musical experience, the project aims to inspire, educate and empower young people worldwide to become Nile Citizens.

Full Bio at www.nileproject.org/music Musicians

Only US Tour musicians are featured in this publication. For the full list of the 27-member collective, visit www.nileproject.org/music Alsarah – Sudan - Vocals Michael Bazibu – Uganda – Based in Brooklyn, this Vocals, Percussion, Adungu, soulful Sudanese singer and Entongoli Member of Uganda’s ethnomusicologist’s songs leading traditional music and have won high praise from dance company, Ndere, for 17 roots-music tastemakers years. Bazibu plays several like Songlines Magazine. traditional Ugandan stringed and percussion instruments Dina ElWedidi – Egypt - with virtuosic grace. Vocals With experience that Mohamed Abo Zekry – Egypt spans Arabic classical music, - Despite his tender years, edgy theater, and street this oud player has a stunning protest, this young singer has command of his instrument, as most recently worked with well as an open ear for other Brazilian heavyweight Gilbert forms, skills that got him a Gil on her debut album. recent album deal with Hani Bedair – Egypt – Harmonia Mundi. Percussion When the biggest Nader El Shaer – Egypt - stars in the Middle East Kawala Born in the culturally need daff (hand drum) or rich town of Port Said, El Shaer (traditional tambourine), they taught himself accordion call Bedair, whose percussion and , only to fall in love skills have also earned him a with the tones of the kawala teaching position at several and its role in . respected Cairo institutions. Selamnesh Zemane – Jorga Mesfin – Ethiopia - Sax Ethiopia - Vocals Hailing from a This self-taught sax player long line of unique culture meshes jazz with Ethiopia’s bearers in Northern Ethiopia, wealth of musical forms and Zemene has brought her ideas, both as a respected band traditions to collaborations leader and favorite sideman for with indie darlings like Debo greats like Mulatu Astatke. Band and The Ex. Kasiva Mutua – Kenya – Sophie Nzayisenga - Rwanda - Percussion Mutua may have Inanga The first female master learned drumming from her of the Rwandan traditional grandmother, but has (inanga), Nzayisenga developed her own knack for learned at her internationally powerful Afropop beats. Her acclaimed father’s knee before expressive playing can tell a setting out to make the story on its own, or keep a instrument her own. band perfectly in the pocket. Steven Sogo – Burundi – Meklit Hadero – Ethiopia - Vocals, Bass, Ikembi, Umuduri Vocals Co-founder of the Nile This Multilingual can play Project, this American-based anything with strings including Ethiopian singer frequently the umuduri, Burundi’s answer digs deep into jazz and singer- to the birembau. He was named songwriter styles, but never a World Bank musical loses sight of her roots. ambassador. Discography

Aswan Jinja 2013 2015 Recorded at the Nile Project’s The soundtrack for their 2015 US first live concert in Aswan. The Tour, Afropop calls the album was named among NPR’s compositions on Jinja ”seductive “5 Must-Hear International and beautiful music.” Albums” of the year. Available Summer 2015. “A committed, euphoric international coalition”

“Producing harmony in a divided world”

“a collaborative spirit flow”

“a multinational intensity”

More press coverage at www.nileproject.org/press

Photo by Karsten Moran for the New York Times nileproject.org A project of Zambaleta

Music inquiries: [email protected] Media inquiries: [email protected] General inquiries: [email protected] zambaleta.org zambaleta is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt NGO based in San Francisco, CA with a mission to design participatory musical experiences and provide a novel approach to musical production, education and networking.

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