Do ethnomusicologists and musicians have an important role to play in shaping a peaceful and sustainable future for the Nile Basin? Mina Girgis thinks so. During this talk, he will share how a passion for sound ultimately led him to start the Nile Project – a new initiative with a mission to transform the water conflict in the Nile Basin through music, youth leadership and an innovation platform. The Nile River is one of the world's most iconic rivers, forming a complex socio-ecological system wrought with political, environmental, economic, and social challenges requiring a new and innovative approach to better conceptualize and solve the myriad challenges it faces. Mina has developed a musically based model that proposes new ways for Nile Citizens to view themselves and each other and alternate approaches to self-organize in order to transform mindsets and human behavior to overcome cross-cultural tensions and trans-boundary environmental challenges. Join us to find out how you too can contribute to the sustainability of the longest river in the world.
Mina Girgis
President & CEO - The Nile Project & Zambaleta
An ethnomusicologist with background in hospitality experience design, Mina explores new ways to cultivate environments conducive to learning, making, and experiencing music. He specializes in curating and producing innovative musical collaborations across diverse styles. Mina is a Synergos Pioneers of Egypt fellow, a Wired 2014 Innovation fellow, and a National Arts Strategies Creative Community fellow.
The Nile Project
The Nile Project is transforming the Nile conflict by inspiring, educating, and empowering an international network of university students to cultivate the sustainability of their ecosystem. The project’s model integrates programs in music, education, dialogue, leadership, and innovation to engage students across disciplines and geographies.
Musical Collaborations: The Nile Project brings together artists from the 11 Nile countries to make music that combines the region’s diverse instruments, languages and traditions. The concert experience aims to inspire cultural curiosity, highlight regional connections, and showcase the potential of trans-boundary cooperation.
Dialogue & Education Programs: Participatory workshops and cross-cultural dialogues provide university students with unique intellectual experiences, deepening their understanding of the Nile ecosystem, and stimulating new ways of thinking, communicating, and doing.
Leadership & Innovation Programs: The Nile Fellowship and Nile Prize programs incentivize university students to apply their education and training toward mobilizing their peers and pioneering innovative solutions to the Nile Basin’s complex and inter-related challenges.
In January 2015, the Nile Project will set sail on its first North America tour to perform and lead workshops at 30 universities and performing arts centers. The Nile Project will visit Berkeley from Feb 18th-20th and will perform at Zellerbach on Feb 19th.