Alsarah and the Nubatones take Cairo fans on unforgettable journey

The Sudanese-American singer and her band were in Egypt in October 2017; due to that concert's warm reception, the latest gig was moved from El Genaina Theater to a bigger stage at Darb 1718 Contemporary Art and Culture Centre in Islamic Cairo.   

More than an hour before the concert, the crowd flocked to the Darb 1718 venue, where fans took their places, some choosing to sit while others opted to stand, fidgeting and eagerly awaiting the diva to take the stage. The audience was clothed in multi-coloured outfits, which complemented the African spirit of the evening.

As scheduled, the Nubatones – comprising bassist and trumpeter Mawuena Kodjovi (Togo/France), percussionist Rami El-Aasser (Egypt), oud player Brandon Terzić (Armenia/US) and backing vocalist Nahid, who is also Alsarah's sister – appeared on stage, with the musicians taking their places. An elegant Alsarah appeared last, sporting her signature hairdo to enthusiastic applause. This signalled the beginning of an unforgettable musical journey that has been perfected by the singer and her band over the past eight years.     

Alsarah is a consummate storyteller who sets up the mood of each song with a story. This prepares the audience for an immersive experience that goes beyond melodies and words. Her charisma, originality and mellow timbre allows the listener to drift away to a dimension where time seizes to exist, or matter.

After the narration has provided compositional context, it's time for the virtuosic musicians to share the spotlight by employing a fusion style influenced by sounds gathered from around the world, including jazz, Afrobeat and native Nubian themes. Alsarah sways smoothly in a visually pleasing way, inviting fans to imitate her moves and repeat each of her chants.

Alsarah’s music is inspired by various stages of her life: from the days she lived in Khartoum to the time she left home for Yemen after a military coup threw Sudan into disarray, to settling in the US where she studied music and became an icon in her own right. Her songs are both nostalgic, beckoning her homeland, the Nile and its great valley, and cheerful, recalling memories of joyful weddings and communal love.

Since the launch of her project with the Nubatones in 2010, Alsarah began appearing regularly a festivals and arts spaces interested in presenting culturally rich and ethereal music. The creative partnership between Alsarah and the Nubatones was solidified with the group's first full-length album Silt. With it Alsarah won the hearts of fans with unique tunes such as 'Soukura', 'Nuba Noutu', 'Yanas Baridou and 'Habibi Taal', known for its retro video in which Alsarah sings and claps to her own song in a music store laden with cassettes and records. 'Habibi Taal' was also the song that served as Alsarah's finale in Cairo.  

Manara, released in 2016, was a turning point for Alsarah and the Nubatones and amplified the group's popularity in Egypt. This was evident when the band played songs like 'Fulani', 'Nar' and the album's title track, which spurred an overwhelming response from the crowd. 

Before leaving Darb 1718, Alsarah didn’t miss out on the opportunity to take a commemorative selfie with the audience, which will be impatiently waiting for the next time she visits Egypt again. Egypt loves Alsarah.