February 26 – March 1, 2018

Alsarah & The Nubatones’ residency at Duke Performances is funded, in part, by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, and co-sponsored by the Duke Islamic Studies Center, the Duke University Middle East Studies Center, the Duke Africa Initiative, the Forum for Scholars and Publics at Duke University, and Be Connected, hosted by Beyù Caffè.

Drawing on the musical traditions of her native Sudan, Alsarah brings her infectious brand of East-African retro-pop to Motorco Music Hall in downtown Durham on Thursday, March 1, where she will perform with her band The Nubatones as the culmination of a weeklong residency.

Alsarah’s visit is part of a joint initiative with the Duke Islamic Studies Center and Duke Middle East Studies Center entitled “Building Bridges: Muslims in America.” Funded in part by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, the project seeks to strengthen understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in the greater Durham area. Alsarah is the first of five US-based artists who, between Spring 2018 and Spring 2020, will make visits to Duke classrooms and local public schools with the aim of fostering understanding, respect, and dialogue around Muslim art and culture.

As part of her residency, Alsarah will be making two daylong visits to the Durham School of the Arts to work with students in the chorus and creative writing programs.  Additional activities include visits to Duke Arabic and Public Policy classes, as well as a free public conversation at Beyù Caffè in downtown Durham.