IN RESIDENCE AT NC STATE LIVE

from March 15 to 21, 2017

live.arts.ncsu.edu

919.515.1100 tickets

/ @NCStateLIVE

Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda – the 11 Nile River basin countries.

Before spring of 2015, I hate to admit that I may not have been able to name more than a couple

of these countries….and certainly would not have been able to place them geographically. Now, after two years of conversations and planning for the Nile Project at NC State, they are imprinted on my brain and in my heart.

How does a collective of musicians from 11 countries in Africa impact the world? As Mina Girgis, Egyptian ethnomusicologist and inspired co-founder of the Nile Project simply, but profoundly said to me two years ago – “it starts with the music.”

Tonight you will hear that music – music born of a collaborative spirit brought on by a sense of urgency. The Nile River is the longest river in the world, and nearly every drop of water that flows through it is used before it reaches the Mediterranean Sea. Acclaimed scholar and scientist, Ismail Serageldin, warned in 1995 that “if the wars of this century were fought over oil, the wars of the next century will be fought over water -- unless we change our approach to managing this precious and vital resource.”

The Nile Project proposes to change that approach by shifting the discourse from a geo-political argument to a unifying conversation that puts music at the forefront of dialogue. In using music as the starting point for the conversation, they seek to create a space where people who would otherwise not meet come together, where discussions that would normally not occur take place and where ideas that are not usually connected are linked.

So what does this mean to us? At NC State, this model of cooperation is sparking conversations and dialogue

about sustainable practices, environmental and social justice, and responsible student leadership and activism.

It means that over the course of the next 6 days, you will have the opportunity to meet new people, visit new spaces, and explore topics of interest to you through the lens of music. Concerned about refugee struggles? Join us for a screening of The Eritrean Exodus on March 19 and hear the personal stories and music of Nile Project musicians from Sudan and Eritrea. Want to explore how music can shift the geopolitical paradigm? Check out the Musical Collaboration & Water Cooperation conversation on March 20. (See pages 7-10 for details of these and all public Nile Project events.)

Water scarcity affects everyone. Here in North Carolina there are 17 river basins, all experiencing unique upstream and downstream challenges and opportunities. The 2017 Nile Project tour includes stops with six North Carolina universities exploring issues and topics of relevance and meaning to their distinct campuses, communities, and watersheds.

I owe a huge debt to the NC State University Foundation, the NC State Sustainability Fund, and our campus partners. In particular, I want to thank Tracy Dixon and Rebekah Dunstan of the University Sustainability Office, Nicole Wilkinson of the Water Resources Research Institute, and Jonathan Kramer of the Music Department for their unqualified support, guidance and inspiration from start to finish over these past two years. (See page 11 for a full list of thank you’s.)

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to my amazing staff Stephanie Clark and Liza Green and to the inspiration of it all – the inimitable Mina Girgis.

So, enjoy the music tonight. We hope this is only the beginning of the conversation with you.

Sincerely,

Sharon Moore Director, NC State LIVE

PHOTO ON COVER: LAILA YASSER

NileFESTTuesday, March 21, 2017 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm Stafford Commons, NC StateJoin us for a free outdoor festival to celebrate the culmination of the Nile Project residency at NC State LIVE. The family-friendly event will feature a closing concert by the Nile Project, an interactive mural with the Crafts Center and guest artist Dare Coulter, Junk Jams with The Scrap Exchange, food from the Nile region, and more! NileFEST is a Wolfpack Certified Sustainable Event.

THE NILE PROJECTConcert in Stewart TheatreWednesday, March 15, 2017 at 7:30pm

Pre-Show discussion with Nile Project Co-Founder, Mina Girgis at 6:30pm

Post-Show Q&A session with Nile Project musicians immediately following the concert. H

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NILE PROJECT Artists

Adel Mekha . . . . . . . . . . . . . Egypt, Nubia / Vocals, PercussionAhmed Omar . . . . . . . . . . . . Eritrea, Egypt / Bass, TanbourAsia Madani . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sudan / Vocals, PercussionDave Otieno . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenya / Electric GuitarIbrahim Fanous . . . . . . . . . . Eritrea / KrarKasiva Mutua . . . . . . . . . . . . Kenya / Percussion, VocalsMichael Bazibu . . . . . . . . . . . Uganda / Entongoli, Adungu, Endingidi, Percussion, VocalsMohamed Abozekry . . . . . . Egypt / OudNader El Shaer . . . . . . . . . . . Egypt / Kawala, Accordion, Farfisa, VocalsSaleeb Fawzy . . . . . . . . . . . . Egypt / VocalsSelamnesh Zemene . . . . . . . Ethiopia / VocalsSteven Sogo . . . . . . . . . . . . . Burundi / Vocals, Bass, Ikembe, Umiduri

Adel Mekha: A widely respected Nubian percussionist and vocalist based in Cairo, Mekha’s knowledge of traditional Nubian rhythms and an expressive singing voice have brought him work with a wide range of ensembles and projects.

Ahmed Omar: Born in Libya to an Eritrean father and Egyptian mother, it is no surprise that mixing cultures has become part of Omar’s creative output. Today, he plays bass for several leading Egyptian bands and organizes the AfriCairo festival and music project.

Asia Madani: A Sudanese vocalist and percussionist residing in Cairo, Madani grew up surrounded by music with a father that played oud and a professional percussionist as a brother. She is a captivating performer who has appeared at many international festivals.

Dave Otieno: One of Kenya’s leading guitarists, Otieno is fluent in the Benga style common to the Lake Victoria region. He has toured throughout Africa and Europe and recently performed at the Folklife Festival at the Smithsonian, Washington D.C.

Ibrahim Fanous: An Eritrean kraar player and vocalist based in London, Fanous began his vocal training at a young age in Eastern Sudan in three different languages—Arabic, Tegrenia and Amharic. He performs internationally throughout North Africa and Europe.

Kasiva Mutua: Kenyan percussionist and singer Mutua may have learned drumming from her grandmother, but has developed her own knack for powerful beats. One of Kenya’s leading drummers, her

expressive playing can tell a story on its own, or keep a band perfectly in the pocket.

Micheal Bazibu: A member of Uganda’s leading traditional music and dance company, Ndere, for the past 17 years, Bazibu plays several traditional Ugandan stringed and percussion instruments with virtuosic grace.

Mohamed Abozekry: Despite his tender years, this Egyptian oud player has a stunning command of his instrument, as well as an open ear for other forms, skills that got him a recent album deal with Harmonia Mundi.

Nader El Shaer: Born in the culturally rich town of Port Said, Egypt, El Shaer taught himself accordion and ney, only to fall in love with the tones of the kawala (end-blown cane flute) and its role in Arabic classical music.

Saleeb Fawzy: Born in Minya, Egypt, vocalist and percussionist Fawzy has a deep knowledge of coptic church hymns and has toured throughout Europe and the Arab world. He is currently working on Tawasol project, helping people to learn through art.

Selamnesh Zemene: Hailing from a long line of unique culture bearers in Northern Ethiopia, this young singer has brought her traditions to collaborations with indie darlings like Debo Band and The Ex.

Steven “Sogo” Irambona: Born in Burundi, Steven Irambona started to play the guitar and sing at an early age. He is a World Bank Musical Ambassador for Burundi and a popular voice of the people. Irambona has lived in exile in the USA since 2015.

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Nile BackgroundThe Nile, one of the world’s most iconic rivers, has captivated the imagination of millions throughout time. Originating in two sources – Lake Victoria in East Africa and Lake Tana in the Ethiopian highlands – the 6,670-kilometer river flows northward through a diversity of climates, landscapes, and cultures before passing through Egypt and emptying into the Mediterranean Sea.

Its 450 million inhabitants are projected to double within the next 25 years, placing an ever increasing demand for Nile water; water that is tied to all aspects of life - from the food on tables to the electricity that powers homes to people’s health. Even now, people living along the Nile are vulnerable to water-related hardships. At least five nations in the Nile Basin are facing water stress. Seven of the eleven Nile countries continue to suffer from undernourishment rates higher than 30%. Less than 10% of basin residents have access to electricity. The core issue at hand is how to peacefully allocate Nile Basin water among eleven nations with different needs and priorities, whose populations are all skyrocketing.

This mounting resource scarcity has contributed to a geopolitical conflict between upstream and downstream riparian states. Tremendous political capital has been expended to draft the Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement, an international treaty to govern water distribution and infrastructure projects differently from the existing 1959 Egyptian-Sudanese treaty giving Egypt the majority water right annually. While the agreement has yet to win mutual consensus, the arduous negotiation process has exposed the deep-seated mistrust between countries, the absence of opportunities for citizen-led dialogue and the lack of a unified identity and vision for the future development of a shared Nile ecosystem.

The Nile River Basin is wrought with political, environmental, economic, and social challenges requiring a new approach to better address the myriad challenges it faces. As regional tensions flare, the Nile Project offers a unique grassroots strategy to effectively mobilize thousands of people across the Nile Basin and beyond in constructive cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration.

About The Nile ProjectThe Nile Project is transforming the Nile conflict by inspiring, educating, and empowering an international network of university students to cultivate the sustainability of their ecosystem. The project’s model integrates music, education, dialogue, leadership, and innovation to engage students across disciplines and geographies.

MUSIC PROGRAMAn expanding Collective of artists from the 11 Nile countries redefining principles of cross-cultural musical collaboration. Also a series of community choirs are applying the same principles across the Nile Basin.

UNIVERSITY PROGRAMA suite of student activities including a yearlong fellowship program, university chapters and local community projects in cities across the Nile Basin.

NETWORK PROGRAMAn international network of scholars, executives and policymakers focusing on developing collaborative solutions to food sustainability in the Nile Basin.

TOURING CREDITSMina Girgis – Producer & CEO Andrew Reissinger – Music Program Manager

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Wednesday, March 15

Water Resources Research Institute of the UNC System (WRRI) Annual Conference8:45am – 10amKeynote speech (delivered by Nile Project Producer Mina Girgis) – Innovative Collaborations Around Water Issues. wrri.ncsu.edu

The Nile Project Concert 7:30pm, Stewart TheatreMusicians from 7 Nile Basin countries perform new music as a collective, with ingenious polyrhythms and supporting vocals in more than 10 languages. Pre-show discussion with Mina Girgis and post-show Q&A session with Nile Project musicians. go.ncsu.edu/nile

Thursday, March 16

WRRI Annual Conference 9:30 – 10:45amRiver Stories Panel Discussion: Mina Girgis and local water experts from Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, Eno River Festival, and Neuse River Keeper/Sound Rivers discuss successes and challenges of managing the Neuse River. wrri.ncsu.edu

Dinners with Purpose featuring Mina Girgis5:30 – 7pmSponsored by the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative at the NC State Institute for Nonprofits

Over dinner, Mina Girgis shares his experience as Producer and Co-founder of the Nile Project to provide an example of finding purpose and passion in your life. go.ncsu.edu/NilePurpose

DURING THEIR SECOND U.S. TOUR, THE NILE PROJECT is in residence at NC State LIVE from March 15 to 21, 2017. We have partnered with organizations on campus and across the Triangle to offer dozens of events to benefit the community. In addition to the public events listed here, Nile Project artists are offering several workshops, performances, and lectures in local public schools and in NC State classrooms to explore geography, ecology, and cultures of the Nile Basin through music.

March 15-21, 2017

NILE PROJECT events

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Friday, March 17

Music and Dance Workshop for NC State Students4 – 5:30pmCo-hosted by NC State Global and Arts Villages

Hands-on percussion and dance workshop led by Nile Project Musicians from Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda.

Saturday, March 18

NC State Student Leadership Summit9am – 5pmDay-long retreat for 30 students with the Nile Project musicians and leaders from across the community to address North Carolina’s environmental challenges and develop skills to make positive change.

Sunday, March 19

Creek Connections2pm – 4pm, Walnut Creek Wetlands Center, 950 Peterson Street, Raleigh, 27610Afternoon event to explore commonalities between Raleigh’s Walnut Creek Watershed and Africa’s Nile River Basin including: a panel discussion with leaders from the Nile Project, Partners for Environmental Justice, Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, and the Neighborhood Ecology Corps; a hands-on art project for young people led by the Office of Raleigh Arts; refreshments and live music from the Nile Project.

Film Screening: The Eritrean Exodus6pm – 8pm, Park Shops, Room 210Hosted by NC State’s Global Training Initiative, The Office of International Affairs at NC State, and the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

Documentary film featuring Chris Cotter, an American traveler, as he explores a common migration path through Ethiopia and into Israel, tracking the plight of Eritrean refugees. Following the film, there will be a discussion with Eritrean scholar Dan Connell, Nile Project musicians from Sudan and Eritrea, and a traditional coffee ceremony provided by the local Eritrean Civic Group. go.ncsu.edu/eritrea

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Monday, March 20

Nile Project Lunch and Learn for NC State StudentsNoon – 1:30pmHosted by NC State’s African American Cultural Center and the Office of International Services

Lunchtime discussion between Nile Project musicians and NC State students on the relationship between the Nile Region water crisis and environmental justice issues in the US.

Musical Collaboration & Water Cooperation3pm – 4:30pm, Piedmont/Mountains Ballroom, Talley Student UnionHosted by NC State University Scholars Program

Interactive lecture demonstration in which Nile Project artists relate their collective creative process to the efforts of diplomats and water professionals in finding win-win solutions to hydro political conflicts.

Uganda Night with James Isabirye and Nicholas Ssempijje: Music and Cultural Sustainability in Uganda7:30pm, Piedmont/Mountains Ballroom, Talley Student UnionPresented by NC State Price Music Center Lecture Series

Ugandan scholars, James Isabirye and Nicholas Ssempijje, and Nile Project musician, Michael Bazibu, share stories and music from their homeland.

Tuesday, March 21

NileFEST5:30pm – 7:30pm, NC State Stafford CommonsFamily-friendly event featuring a closing concert by the Nile Project, an interactive mural with NC State’s Crafts Center and guest artist Dare Coulter, Junk Jams with The Scrap Exchange, food from the Nile region, and more!

live.arts.ncsu.edu

/ @NCStateLIVE

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Tuesday, February 21

The Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam and the Road to Cooperation on the Nile River6:30pm – 8:30pmA discussion presented by NC State’s College of Natural Resources.

Seminar by Dr. Dale Whittington, Professor of Environmental Sciences & Engineering and City & Regional Planning, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Manchester Business School, UK. Respondents include Dr. Laura Taylor from NC State’s department of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Dr. Mohamed Youssef from NC State’s department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

Thursday, March 23 & Friday, March 24

Panoramic Dance Project Concert8pm, Stewart TheatreProgram includes Countless Tracks in the Riverside Mud, choreographed by Tara Mullins, inspired by the Nile Project mission. Music for the piece is “St. Yared of Axum” from Aswan, the first Nile Project CD, recorded in 2013. For tickets visit go.ncsu.edu/dance-pdp or call 919.515.1100.

Sunday, April 23

Raleigh Civic Symphony: A River Runs Through It4pm, Stewart TheatreProgram includes music inspired by rivers and water: Bedrich Smetana’s beloved The Moldau and the World Premiere of a work composed for the orchestra by jazz bass legend and composer Rufus Reid. For tickets call 919.515.1100.

Additional Partner Events

For more information on Nile Project events and ticketing visit: go.ncsu.edu/NileEvents

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Arts NC State Executive Director – Rich Holly Arts Marketing – Mark Tulbert Arts Outreach – Amy Sawyers Crafts Center – Jo Ellen Westmoreland, Jennifer Siegel Dance Program – Tara Mullins Gregg Museum of Art & Design – Mary Hauser Music Department – Alison Arnold, Jonathan Kramer, Peter Askim, visiting Ugandan scholars James Isabirye and Nicholas Ssempijje University Theatre – David Jones, Andrew Korhonen, Kevin Wright

African American Cultural Center – Frances Graham, Dawn Morgan

Africana Studies – Haddy Njie, Craig Brookins

Bruce and Kelly Branson

City of Raleigh Office of Sustainability – Megan Anderson Public Utilities – Kenneth Waldroup

College of Natural Resources – Dean Mary Watzin, Lara Brown de Fuenmayor , Thomas Easley, Katie Martin, Larry Nielsen, Louie Rivers

Dare Coulter

Division of Academic and Student Affairs – Barry Olson

Eritrean Civic Group

Global Training Initiative – Rebecca Cibulskis

Green Elementary Leadership and World Languages Magnet School – JonNesha Stevens

Malkuta Project – Nate Myers

NC Presenting Colleagues – Kristen Brogdon, Michael Crane, Denise Drury Homewood, Laura Kratt, Denise Ringler

NC State Dining – Anthony Brown

NC State Students – Meredith Biechele, Haley Hall, Andrew Hardwick, Catherine Kubitschek

Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity – Beverly Williams

Office of International Services – Lauren Ball

Sertoma Arts Center – Julia Meder

Social Entrepreneurship Initiative of the Institute for Nonprofits – Elizabeth Benefield

St. Ambrose Episcopal Church – Reverend Taylor

Student Leadership and Engagement – Brian Mathis

University Housing

Arts Village – Mike Mellas

EcoVIllage – Meghan Lobsinger Teten

University Scholars Program – Ken Johnson

University Sustainability Office – Carla Davis, Tracy Dixon, Rebekah Dunstan

US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

Walnut Creek Wetland Center – Norman Camp, Amin Davis, Stacie Hagwood, Frank McKay, David Shouse

Water Resources Research Institute – Nicole Wilkinson, Christy Perrin

Chancellor and Mrs. Woodson

Karen Young

The Nile Project is a statewide collaborative initiative of the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University, the Batte Center at Wingate, NC State LIVE, the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at Appalachian State University, the S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series at East Carolina University, and UNCW Presents.

This project is made possible by grants from the NC State University Sustainability Fund; the NC State University Foundation; the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources; and is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the N.C. Arts Council.

Special thanks to the following who advised, encouraged, and gave generously of their time to make the Nile Project residency a powerful reality.

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SHARE & CONNECTncstatelive@ncsu.edu

919.515.1100 tickets

live.arts.ncsu.edu / @NCStateLIVE

Nileproject.org / @nileproject

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