NUBANOOR at El Tanbura Hall

El Mastaba Center for Egyptian Folk Music presents a night with the black Pharaohs NubaNour (click here for bio) tomorrow Thursday April 19, 2012 at 9:00 PM in El Tanbura Hall.
Tickets will be available at the front counter for 20 EGP.

Nubia is a very fertile land and the cradle to a very classy and deep kind of music representing the historical area. The art of joy is the speciality of artists from this area. Nubanoor will present both harvest and mourning songs but it is rare that their music is sad or digs too much into troubles.
The Nubian artist never forgets his two languages (Kenzy and Vadiky) nor his special Galabiya and traditions, so much so that you will find him, 1500 years after converting to Islam, singing a song for The Virgin Mary in what was the original language of the area.

To watch a video of Nubanoor, click here.

NUBANOOR (Nubian Lights) at El Tanbura Hall

"Amandujr" is an ancient Nubian legend about the Nile. It tells how people drowned beneath the currents of the world's greatest river never die and how their souls continue to live deep in the River bed.

Nubian people felt a great affinity with nature, living their lives in accordance with the seasons and continual ebb and flow of the Nile - the earliest Nubian songs were inspired by their farming origins. Nubian hand drums, known as "Duff" (fashioned from goat skins and wood) were thought to be a key link between their people and their environment, with the ability to produce the sounds of Fire, Water and Air through complex rhythms. In addition to songs for cultivation and harvesting the Nubian people sang epic poetry of Love and religion, recognising both Islam and Christianity.

Nubians regarded themselves as singers with songs for every occasion from birthing songs with accompanying rituals, in which a new born baby would have its face bathed in the Nile with food thrown into the river as an offering to the souls of spirits in the Nile, through to tender songs known as "Azaa", performed to mark the death of loved ones. Dance also played a central role in their culture with a dance called "Ferri" representing the movement of "Bulti" fish swimming through the waves.

The Nubian way of life remained relatively constant until the modern world began to encroach on the Nubian people's environment through the first stages of the construction of the Aswan dawn in 1902. Traditional lands and sacred areas were flooded during 1912 and 1933 leading to the displacement of the Nubians who began to migrate to other areas in Egypt, with an especially large concentration of Nubian people taking residence in Cairo. The Nubian homelands were lost forever in 1964 during the controversial construction of the Aswan High Dam during the Nasser period. While some migrants made new settlements elsewhere in Aswan, known somewhat unfortunately as the "Valley of Hell" the majority of the Nubian people sought refuge across Egypt in this final migration.

In Cairo Mr El Said Gamal established the first incarnation of the NubaNoor group in 1962. The ensemble was notable for featuring the finest Nubian singers and composers of the age including "Abdullah Batt", "Abou Mirghani", "Saleh Abbas". Generations later the band can still be found performing traditional Nubian music deep in the Cairo metropolis. Their repertoire may have expanded to include songs of the deep sorrows felt by the Nubians from the loss of their traditional lands, and nostalgia for their way of life however alongside this meditation on events of the 20th century; NubaNoor continue to perform poetic love and praise songs with their unique rhythms and cultural heritage.

NubaNoor will play on Thursday March 15, 2012 at 9:00 PM at El Tanbura Hall (click here for details).
Tickets sell for 20EGP at the door.

(This biography has been prepared by El Mastaba. For more information contact them at 010 3171 762 or write to info@elmastaba.org )

WEEKLY MUSIC AGENDA August 6 to 12, 2011

Saturday, August 6, 2011

- Al Fan Midan Festival with music, dance and other activities in Abdeen Square, 9:30 PM
- Camera Band from 9:15 PM
- Sodfa band from 10:00 PM
- Wust ElBalad from 11:00 PM
- Ahmad A. El Haggar from 1:00 AM

- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 9:00 PM

Sunday, August 7, 2011

- Black Theama (Alternative Egyptian music) 7th Anniversary in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM
- Samaa’ Band led by Intesar Abdel-Fattah at the Ghouri Palace, 9:30 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi, 9:30 PM

Monday, August 8, 2011

- Ahmed Sharhabeel (Reggae) at the Open Air Theater of Cairo Opera House, 9:30 PM
- Oriental Takht in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 9:30 PM

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

- Zizi Adel in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

- Embassy of Indonesia presents Sufi drums and dancing with traditional music at the Open Air Theater of Cairo Opera House, 9:30 PM
- Manal Mohei el Din in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM
- Ramadan Night with Mohamed Rashad (Mawwal) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 10:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 9:30 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble at the Makan, 9:30 PM

Thursday, August 11, 2011

- Hend Zaki (singer) at the Open Air Theater of Cairo Opera House, 9:30 PM
- Basata Band (Contemporary Egyptian Music) at the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 9:30 PM
- Ara Musa Honra (pop, reggae, flamenco) at the Geneina Theater at Al Azhar Park, 9:30 PM
- Aswat El-Samaa Band at the Jesuit Center, 9:00 PM
- Nubanoor (Nubian music) at El Tanboura Hall, 9:30 PM

Friday, August 12, 2011

- Uzbekistan Embassy presents Ramadan Night the Open Air Theater of Cairo Opera House, 9:30 PM
at the Gomhouria Theatre, 9:30 PM
- Cairokee (Modern Arabic Rock) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Maryam Saleh (Arabic songs) at the Geneina Theater at Al Azhar Park, 9:30 PM

- El Banadra Band at the Jesuit Center, 9:00 PM

Events updates

Thursday June 16, 2011
"Nubanoor Night" at El Tanboura Hall, 8:30 PM. Read earlier biography.

Friday June 17, 2011
- World Refugee Day, from 1:00PM onwards, at El Sawy Culture Wheel Zamalek including
- Play “Going to the Neighbors House” at the River Hall, 2:00 PM
- Nasser Shamma (Iraq / Oud music) 6pm River Hall, 6:00PM

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC June 11 to June 17, 2011

Saturday, June 11, 2011
- Sami Yusuf concert at the Gezira Youth Center in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra presents a Symphonic Concert with Mohamed Shams (piano) conducted by Marcello Mottadelli at the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Piano Recital for Children at the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 2:00 PM
- Salalem (Blues/Funk/Rock) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Fuego (Latino Gipsy music) at After Eight, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM

Sunday, June 12, 2011
- Reggae Bus Tour (Reggae) at the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Nomads and Amro Salah Trio feat. Noha Fekry (Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 8:00 PM
- Bashir (Nubian Fusion) at After Eight, 9:00 PM
- Samaa’ Band led by Intesar Abdel-Fattah at the Ghouri Palace, 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi, 7:30 PM

Monday, June 13, 2011
- Nedal Sultan at the River Hall of El Sawi Culture Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Omar Khairat at the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Machine Eat Man and Rami Abadir (Electronic) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM
- City Band (Rock) at After Eight, 9:00 PM

Tuesday, June 14, 2011
- "Rue Lepsius: musical portrait of Constantine P. Cavafy" (Greek live music) at the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Cello and piano recital with Ashraf Sharara in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Spunky Dynamite (Funk/Dance floor) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- DJ Dina El Ghareeb at the After Eight Club, 9:00 PM

Wednesday, June 15, 2011
- "Egyptian Centennial Performance" by Egyptian Modern Dance company at the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Piano Recital with Mohamed Shams at the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Hossam Sakr Ensemble for Singing at the Gomhouria Theater, 8:00 PM
- DJ Amr Hosny (Boogie Night) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 8:30
- Mazaher Ensemble at the Makan, 9:00
- City Band (Rock) at After Eight, 9:00 PM

Thursday, June 16, 2011
- "Egyptian Centennial Performance" by Egyptian Modern Dance company at the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- National Arab Music Ensemble at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Georges Kazazian and Sabil (Jazz) at the Geneina Theatre at the Al-Azhar Park, 8:00 PM
- "Nubanoor Night" at El Tanboura Hall, 8:30 PM. Read earlier biography. update
- Hany Mustafa (Acoustic Rock) and Bluenotes (Blues) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 7:30 PM
- Sahra Band (Rai music) at After Eight, 9:00 PM

Friday, June 17, 2011
- Nasser Shamma (Iraq / Oud music) performance at River Hall, 6:00 PM (as part of World Refugee Day, from 1:00PM onwards) at El Sawy Culture Wheel Zamalek update
- Abdel Halim Nowera Ensemble for Arab Music at the Main Hall of the Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Reham Abdel Hakim at the Wisdom Hall of Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Taxi Band and Station Band (Egyptian music and songs) at the Geneina Theatre at the Al-Azhar Park, 8:00 PM
- DJ Amir Sharara feat. Yousra el Gendy (House) the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Salalem (Blues/Funk/Rock) at After Eight, 9:00 PM

NUBANOOR (NUBIAN LIGHTS)

"Amandujr" is an ancient Nubian legend about the Nile. It tells how people drowned beneath the currents of the world's greatest river never die and how their souls continue to live deep in the River bed.

Nubian people felt a great affinity with nature, living their lives in accordance with the seasons and continual ebb and flow of the Nile - the earliest Nubian songs were inspired by their farming origins. Nubian hand drums, known as "Duff" (fashioned from goat skins and wood) were thought to be a key link between their people and their environment, with the ability to produce the sounds of Fire, Water and Air through complex rhythms. In addition to songs for cultivation and harvesting the Nubian people sang epic poetry of Love and religion, recognising both Islam and Christianity.

Nubians regarded themselves as singers with songs for every occasion from birthing songs with accompanying rituals, in which a new born baby would have its face bathed in the Nile with food thrown into the river as an offering to the souls of spirits in the Nile, through to tender songs known as "Azaa", performed to mark the death of loved ones. Dance also played a central role in their culture with a dance called "Ferri" representing the movement of "Bulti" fish swimming through the waves.

The Nubian way of life remained relatively constant until the modern world began to encroach on the Nubian people's environment through the first stages of the construction of the Aswan dawn in 1902. Traditional lands and sacred areas were flooded during 1912 and 1933 leading to the displacement of the Nubians who began to migrate to other areas in Egypt, with an especially large concentration of Nubian people taking residence in Cairo. The Nubian homelands were lost forever in 1964 during the controversial construction of the Aswan High Dam during the Nasser period. While some migrants made new settlements elsewhere in Aswan, known somewhat unfortunately as the "Valley of Hell" the majority of the Nubian people sought refuge across Egypt in this final migration.

In Cairo Mr El Said Gamal established the first incarnation of the NubaNoor group in 1962. The ensemble was notable for featuring the finest Nubian singers and composers of the age including "Abdullah Batt", "Abou Mirghani", "Saleh Abbas". Generations later the band can still be found performing traditional Nubian music deep in the Cairo metropolis. Their repertoire may have expanded to include songs of the deep sorrows felt by the Nubians from the loss of their traditional lands, and nostalgia for their way of life however alongside this meditation on events of the 20th century; NubaNoor continue to perform poetic love and praise songs with their unique rhythms and cultural heritage.

NubaNoor will play on Thursday May 19, 2011 at 8.30 PM at El Tanboura Hall.

(This biography has been prepared by El Mastaba. For more information contact them at 010 3171 762 or write to info@elmastaba.org )

WEEKLY AGENDA MUSIC May 14 to May 20, 2011

Saturday, May 14, 2011
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ahmed El Saedi present “A Tribute to Gustav Mahler” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Wagner’s opera “Die Walküre” live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera in New York in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 6:00 PM
- Metropolis & Headstock (Metal) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Cairokee (Alternative Arabic Rock) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Fuego (Latino Gipsy music) at After Eight, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM

Sunday, May 15, 2011
- National Arab Music Ensemble at the Arab Institute, 8:00 PM
- Ahmed El Touni (Sufi Inshad) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Massar Egbari (Egyptian Rock) in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- Migimusic (Funk, Fusion, Jazz) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Bashir (Nubian Fusion) at After Eight, 9:00 PM
- Samaa’ Band led by Intesar Abdel-Fattah at the Ghouri Palace, 8:00 PM
- El-Nil Troupe for folk instruments (Folk music and songs) at Beit Al-Suheimi, 7:00 PM

Monday, May 16, 2011
- National Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Selim Sahab in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Nazra Band (Contemporary Egyptian music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- The Percussion Show at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM
- Wust El Balad (Egyptian Rock) at After Eight, 9:00 PM

Tuesday, May 17, 2011
- The Cairo Choral Society conducted by John Baboukis and accompanied by David Hales and The Cairo Festival Orchestra led by Mounir Nasr El Din present Schubert’s “Mass in G” at All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek, 7:00 PM
- El Sakia String Orchestra conducted by Mohamed Saad Basha with soloist Tarek Raouf (Trumpet) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:00 PM
- El Sawaki Band for Folkloric Arts present “Songs of the Revolution” in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Crash Boom Bang (Funk, Rock’n’Roll, Latino) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:30 PM
- DJ Dina El Ghareeb at the After Eight Club, 9:00 PM

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
- Cairo Opera Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui present Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Un Ballo in Maschera” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Mona Wassef (Harp) and Dina Iskander (Soprano) recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- The Cairo Choral Society conducted by John Baboukis and accompanied by David Hales and The Cairo Festival Orchestra led by Mounir Nasr El Din present Schubert’s “Mass in G” in the Ewart Memorial Hall of AUC Tahrir Campus, 7:00 PM
- Mohamed Antar (Ney) concert at St. John’s Church in Maadi, 7:00 PM
- Simplexity (Metal/Progressive Rock) and Shady Ahmed in the River Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- DJ Ramy (Boogie Night) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 9:00 PM
- Al-Ghouri Tannoura Dance Group at the Ghouri Caravansaray, 7:30 PM
- Mazaher Ensemble (Zar music) at the Makan, 9:00 PM
- City Band (Rock) at After Eight, 9:00 PM

Thursday, May 19, 2011
- Cairo Opera Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui present Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Un Ballo in Maschera” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Cairo Symphony Orchestra Chamber music recital in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Ahmed Rabie Band (Jazz) in the Open Air Theatre of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- National Arab Music Ensemble at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Eftekasat (Jazz) at the Geneina Theatre in Al Azhar Park, 8:00 PM
- Nubanoor (Nubian Lights) at the Tanboura Hall, 8:30 PM
- Ghona Raye’ (Contemporary Egyptian Music) in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- Hany Mustafa (Acoustic Rock) and Hot Feet Band (Soul/Funk) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 7:30 PM
- Sahra Band (Rai music) at After Eight, 9:00 PM

Friday, May 20, 2011
- Cairo Opera Company and Cairo Opera Orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui present Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Un Ballo in Maschera” in the Main Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- Osman El Mahdy (Violin) and Elena Dzamashvili (piano) recital with works from Paganini, Beethoven, Leclair, Mozart, Massenet and Glazunov in the Small Hall of Cairo Opera House, 8:00 PM
- “I am Carmen” (more information about the play here) in the Open Air Theatre of Cairo Opera House, 7:00 PM
- Kolthoumiat at the Gomhouria Theatre, 8:00 PM
- Heritage Ensemble for Arab Music at the Arab Institute, 8:00 PM
- Massar Egbari (Egyptian Rock) at the Geneina Theatre in Al Azhar Park, 8:00 PM
- El Masreyyen Band in the Wisdom Hall of El Sawi Cultural Centre in Zamalek, 8:30 PM
- DJ Amr Hosny (House) at the Cairo Jazz Club, 7:00 PM
- Salalem (Blues/Funk/Rock) at After Eight, 9:00 PM