Skip to main content

Channelling the Unsung Beauty of East African Traditions, the Nile Project

As part of this year’s Yorkshire Festival, we are delighted to welcome a European premier to the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford. The Nile Project brings together forward-thinking musicians from the 11 countries across the Nile River Basin, to create the new sound of a shared Nile identity.

Published

Inspired by Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, Egyptian musicologist Mina Girgis and Ethiopian-American singer Meklit Hadero created this stunning concert experience to raise awareness of the cultural and environmental challenges along the world’s longest river. The musicians come from Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

In the collective’s collaborative compositions, resonant harps and lyres from up and down the river have learned new musical modes. Together they combine the polyrhythmic styles of Lake Victoria and the pointed melodies of the Ethiopian highlands, with the rich modal traditions of Egypt and Sudan that support vocals in more than ten languages.

Described as ‘euphoric’ by the New York Times, this UK-exclusive performance at the Alhambra Theatre on Saturday 18 June is set to raise the roof.

Yorkshire Festival Artistic Director, Matt Burman, said:

“These bold, energetic and exciting shows are just a flavour of what’s coming to Yorkshire this summer. We’re thrilled to be creating such a game-changing festival. We’re looking forward to showing off our epic landscape, our world class buildings and bringing these incredible performers, musicians and artists to the people of Yorkshire and the world.’’