Atef Malhas
Artist, Singer, Song writer
Fellows
Atef Malhas
Artist, Singer, Song writer
Jordan
Atef is an independent Palestinan/Jordanian Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist based in Tunisia. He started his solo project in 2018 creating songs and music in different genres, before which he has been part of several musical projects and co-founded SemaZen band which toured in Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia and Jordan. So far he has released four songs and clips available on all platforms, and on his way to create more music. Also, he teaches guitar and facilitates different kinds of music workshops.
Benjemy
Technical Director, Production and Stage Manager, Trainer
Tunisia
Multi-instrumentalist, music producer and DJ, Benjemy has been active on the Tunisian electronic scene for over ten years. Combining percussion, pianos and electronic machines, his music tries to reconcile poetry and dancefloor while drawing from chaabi/sufi and Arabic roots. Elected best dj in Tunisia in 2018 by People's Beats magazine, Benjemy accumulates dates and releases his first album INCIPIT in 2020 (Including collaborations with Dorsaf Hamdani, Kaso, etc.) Most of Benjemy’s work is based on the synthesis between disciplines and genres. He uses traditional elements as a soluble material in different artistic expressions. As a musician oscillating between acoustic and electronic sounds, Benjemy's universe remains dark, incisive and wide
Carina
Singer and Music Composer
Lebanon
The captivating and mystical performances of Carina transport the audience into a magical universe where the mixture of sweetness, peace and love leaves a mark of deep healing as her listeners say. Known for her heavenly and angelic voice, Carina, Lebanese singer and songwriter of Armenian origin, is based in Beirut. Poetic and mystical, her melodious style reflects her divine connection resulting from traditions where love is the only religion. Inspired by deep meditations where she receives the music, her musical journey is the main instrument through which she channels her spirituality. Having studied music her entire life since childhood, she is a multi-instrumentalist who continues to develop her voice and musical talent. In 2019, she self-produced and arranged her debut album Safrit Rishé (A Feather’s Travel) after a successful crowdfunding campaign. The LP was recorded with the cooperation of 7 professional musicians playing cello, violin, double bass, flute, drums, and oriental percussion. Her song Safrit Rishé featured in the documentary Eleelé (The Unheard Feminine Voice of the Middle East) and among her notable past performances we note her participation in the Nehna Wel Amar Wel Jiran (Us, the Moon and the Neighbors) festival, and the live television coverage of her concert of the Music Day festival. Her evocative performances offer authentic re-imaginations of traditional musical treasures, as well as a stunning repertoire of her own original songs. Carina expresses her holistic vision and love for humanity through concerts as well as through her parallel passion for the humanitarian clown.
Electro Zebala
North African Band
Egypt
The group met for the first time in 2018 in Mount Lebanon, during a music creator’s workshop. There, the idea of creating together music that merges electronic music and music made from handmade recycled and up-cycled garbage was born; hence the name: Electro Zebala (Electro-Garbage). That same year they received a production grant from AFAC which allowed them to meet and start working on their album idea. Indeed, in March 2019, they met in Luxor, Egypt and embarked on a 6 months journey of experimentation and then arrangement of the recordings. Once they completed the foundational stage, they started the process of mixing and mastering, which they finished in August 2021. All the music of the album relies solely on hand-made musical instruments from garbage. Their music creation process was largely based on experimentation and learning by doing. During this process, and without prior similar experiences, they learned how to arrange their recorded music library; they cooperated and learned together how to self mix and master the content. This process culminated in the release of the 11 music pieces album that reflect the identities/inspirations of its two protagonists: African and Arabic rhythms, Sub-Saharan Blues, Upper Egyptian heritage and North African tunes.
Dooby
Singer, composer and music producer
Egypt
Abdallah Mohsen AKA (Dooby) an Egyptian Singer, composer and music producer staying in Alexandria as home base. The journey started as a teenager being exposed mainly to hip hop culture and deeply influenced by Afro beats and African culture, A spark ignited pushing dooby to be more involved in the hip hop and the underground music scene in Alexandria. It all started by rap and graffiti which were baby steps towards a professional career in the underground music field. Dooby’s professional career kicked off in 2014 through Hageen هجين (an Egyptian reggae fusion band) which he founded and took a main part in it as a vocalist, front man and manager. Hageen’s journey came to an end officially after 8 years in 2022, Dooby decided to work on his own sound mainly influenced by a sound he developed through the journey, To be shared through his own project named “Ghorfa el togarya”. Ghorfa el togarya Ghorfa el togarya as a project is a window to share the sound of a concept that creates a blend caused by the merge of two distinctive elements producing natural sound of uniqueness. The idea of merging various genres (Hip Hop ,R&b, Reggae, Blues and Folk music) with an authentic sound reflects the nature of being exposed to different faces and backgrounds in a normal day in el ghorfa el togarya . Ghorfa el togarya conducts collaborations with different artists not specifically related to music production , Ghorfa el togarya shares the sound and a vision developed through the collaborations with graphic design , visual art , choreography and any art that fits the sound.
Megraya for Training and Arts Development
Theatre Group, Arts Organization
Egypt
Megraya for Training and Arts Development is in Almenya in Egypt. It presents performances for young people and children as well as trainings in Theatre, Music, and Painting. Megraya is focused on artistic productions and has an equipped theatre room and a visual arts space and organizes exhibitions and events throughout the year.
Mehdi Dahkan - Generation Z
Dancer, Choreographer
Morocco
Mehdi started dancing at the age of 12 by joining the breakdance group '99flow' with which he multiplies his experiences on stage. His curiosity led him then to contemporary dance and performance. He worked with many choreographers such as Khalid benghrib, Othman Sellami, Wajdi Guagi, Ahlam el Morsli, Mostafa Ahbouro, and others. Engaged in transmission, since 2018, he gave regular classes in different cultural centers in Tangier such as: Tabadoul, Positive school, Darna theater, Live room, among others. Currently, he also teaches at the conservatory of Tangier. In 2019, he founded the Generation Z association with other artists from his city. The association aims at promoting and bringing to life different artistic disciplines in the national cultural landscape. Particularly in the fields of performing arts and urban arts. It is very involved in artistic creation as it has already developed several performances such as the solo ‘Makan’; ‘2meters’. it is currently working on a new performance for 5 dancers called ‘14Km’, a performance that discusses immigration. The association engages in socio-cultural projects such as the Rassif project, in collaboration with the Darna association, the dance Labo program, with the liveroom association as well as the international Haraka festival.
Momkin
Artist
Morocco
The Momkin cooperative is the creation of five young artists from Tangier, the majority from rural areas, who share a common vision of the dissemination of the performing arts in the less-served communities of Tangier, as well as in the rural and mountainous regions of where they come from. The members of the cooperative all share great experience in creating and carrying out artistic workshops for children and young people in Tangier, both in schools and with youth associations in several neighborhoods of Tangier, including in peripheral urban communities whose newly arrived residents are both migrants from the rural exodus, and also from the sub-Saharan community. The cooperative chose the name Momkin, ممكن "possible" on the premise that it is through the arts that children and young people can discover some of the possibilities that life has to offer.
Mraya Theatre Project / Anna Akkash
Writer-Theater director
Syria
Anna Akkash, Syrian, a member of teaching staff at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts (formerly). BA in Drama Studies, Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, Damascus / MA in cultural sciences, specialty of Theater and Performing Arts, from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art, Tunisia. A member of the Arab Writers Union, and a member of the Artists Association / Damascus. Recently established Mraya Theater Project in Damascus, Syria. Works as a translator from English and Russian, and has many translated books from the Russian language, in addition to studies and researches in theater. Currently works as writer, scenarist and a theater director.
Mulberry Tree
Inclusion Theater Team
Egypt
Mulberry Tree is a startup entity awarded by Nahdet El-Mahrousa as one of the best ideas in the theater performances initiatives in El Garage Ideation, 2020. MT aims to create a safe place for expression and relief by raising awareness of developmental issues through the use of inclusive theatre arts for all people. Mulberry Tree provides continuous programs and workshops through theater arts such as storytelling, movement, puppetry and playback theater for all people included different categories such as; persons with disabilities, Refugees, orphans, children at risk, elderly men and women to express themselves through drama acting so that the whole community get the chance to see their real talents and capabilities all the time. Mulberry Tree has already implemented 2 rounds of Storytelling and movement workshops named Ehkily and Zay Alresha. The 2nd round was designed in cooperation with Studio Emad Elddin. The workshops included 50% persons with disabilities of total participants (Visual and Physical disabilities) in July and October, 2021. This workshop focuses on the inclusion concept as well, in order to create an inclusive environment. Moreover, MT seeks to create an access point for persons with disabilities in the art and culture scene through providing more opportunities for them in the theater and acting field. through their participation as main performers in some short performances produced by MT or produced by other theater groups cooperated with them.
Sandy Chamoun
Sound Artist Performer
Lebanon
Sandy Chamoun, born in 1987, works and lives in Beirut, Lebanon. She studied audio-visual arts at the Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth and graduated from The Lebanese University with a BA in acting. She is a founding member in The Great Departed band which is a political satire music project founded in 2013. They released their first album “La Bombe” in 2016 to acclaim across Arab-majority countries - followed by a European tour (Switzerland [Bern,Zurich], France[Paris], Netherland [Tilburg] Norway [Oslo]) in collaboration with Oslo World and Beirut&Beyond foundation 2017. Parallel to her work with the band, she does her own concerts researching and singing Arabic folk songs with social and political critique. She sang repertoires of Sheikh Imam and Mona Meraashli at Metro Al Madina and other venues. She participated as an actor/singer in several theatrical productions “Political circus", "Welada88", and "Aghani Servicet” (Taxi Songs). Those acts were featured at Metro Al-Madina and the Beiteddine Festival 2017. As an actor, she had a lead role in "The Beach House" by Roy Dib (2016), and participated in "Close To Here" a play by Roy Dib (2017) at Sharjah Biennial. Actor in “congress of idling person” film by Bassem Saad (2020). Currently she is working on her own music project trilogy “FATA 17OCT”. She was part of a compilation for Beirut and beyond foundation where she released her second solo track “siret el ro3b”2021. She participated Itijahat festival September 2021, and “Irtijal festival “ September 2021. She also worked as a sound designer on two short films “there is a baba in our house” by leil Zahra mortada, and ”congress of silly persons” by Bassem Saad. She worked as a sound designer for podcast “test test test” produced by Oppa research architecture.
Sudoku for Arts
Art Academy, Theatre Team, and Media Production Team
Egypt
They have produced and presented more than 25 different plays on most Egyptian Stages, tackling a lot of important social topics. They have also hosted 6 Workshops with more than 120 independent artists. They have participated in several Egyptian and international theater festivals and won individual and group awards and prizes. They aim to achieve positive impact on the society and spread awareness on topics such as commitment, creativity, development, competition, and loyality.
Yassin Mahgoub
Singer, Music Composer, and Actor
Egypt
Yassin Mahgoub is a singer, composer, guitarist and Egyptian actor from Alexandria, born on 1991. He received many awards in the fields of poetry and acting. He established Qarar Ezala band that offers sophisticated rock music with a mix of oriental melodies. He has a keen knowledge of rock music genre with a special interest in improvisation and fusion of different musical types. He has a strong ability to deliver engaging solo singing performances, as well as a strong expertise in the art of composing original songs.
Akram Missaoui
Artist
Tunisia
A versatile artist with several strings to his bow: Songwriter, percussionist and singer. His driving mantra is sharing his musical practice through the stage or through the workshops. Tunisian musician, he was born and raised to the love of music in his hometown Kasserine. Akram grew up with the mission to share his culture and his heritage through authentic music. Starting as autodidact artist, playing percussions and singing with several Tunisian bands, Akram made his way to academia getting his bachelor in music and musicology and perusing in masters degree. In 2022, Akram launches his solo journey with a clear vision : Getting to people’s hearts with his own authentic musical practice.
Rawan Roshni
Singer/Songwriter, Performance Artist, Sound Practioner, Fascilitator & Community Mobilizer
Jordan
Singer/Songwriter, Whirling Dance Performer/Instructor, Sound Healing Practioner, Fascilitator and Community Mobilizer; Rawan Roshni has spread her wings across artforms and fields of impact. She lives to explore and express herself, and spread healing and hope in circles of human family. Shes Palestinian/Albanian by blood, Jordanian/Canadian by paperwork, and a global citizen with a gypsy soul. She has cofounded multiple music projects including SemaZen; An Interactive World Music Project that released an album entitled Positive Vibrations. Over the past two years she focused on producing and releasing her own solo work with three singles and their music videos. Most recently she started an Arab Gypsy Music project alongside musician Odai Basim and they are travelling and touring in Turkey and Egypt.
Tuqa Taher
Singer
Egypt
“Taqa Taher”, born in 1994 in Alexnadria (Egypt), is a singer, composer, music teacher and master’s student in music. Her passion for singing started from childhood through her School music lessons, and she sang for the first time on the school radio at the age of seven; Despite that, she studied at the Faculty of Law - Alexandria University and joined the choir of the Alexandria University, and after that the National Orchestra. Then she decided to start her musical project to convey a message of peace to all mankind. She is influenced by many societal cases, on top of them the Palestinian case, poverty, injustice, racism and extremism everywhere in the world. She sings for great poets such as Mahmoud Darwish, Nizar Qabbani, Amal Dunqul, Najib Sorour, Ahmed Fouad Negm and others.
Mohab Hussein
Violin and Viola Performer
Egypt
A solo performing artist on violin and viola who performed with several artists around the globe; such as Fathy Salama , Sheikh Zain Mahmoud. He is also an active member of Ghalia Ben Ali's band and recorded her first album with her last year. His background is mainly oriental fusion in addition to his classical education in the Academy of Arts.
Benjemy
Author, Electronic Music Performer
Carina
Singer and Music Composer
Electro Zebala
North African Band
Dooby
Singer, composer and music producer
Megraya for Training and Arts Development
Theatre Group, Arts Organization
Mehdi Dahkan - Generation Z
Dancer, Choreographer
Momkin
Artist
