Cross-cultural collective The Nile Project prepared for NYUAD show

The Nile Project is more than a mere performing ensemble. The cross-cultural collective brings together musicians from the 11 countries that the titular, 6,800km African waterway flows through.

But while The Nile Project’s music is brave, diverse, and fascinating – the group’s mission statement is about far more than creating aesthetically pleasing sounds. Alongside performing concerts across Africa and the United States, the project – a revolving collective of more than 30 musicians – tours universities, hosting workshops that address everything from ethnic identity to development issues and geopolitical strife. As much education initiative as entertainment endeavour, the initiative hopes to break down boundaries, inspire dialogue and change lives.

The Nile Project is led by president and chief executive Mina Girgis, a US-based, Egypt-raised ethnic musicologist. He says the project was inspired following the revolution that gripped his home country in 2011.

“I went back to Egypt and I was really searching for something I could do that would allow me to participate in that change; something to do with my background in music,” he says.

It was only after hearing 12-piece Ethio-funk outfit Debo Band, in California, that the idea sparked to use music to address the continent’s political divisions.

Original article by Rob Garatt

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Cross-cultural collective The Nile Project prepared for NYUAD show