Arabic Song and African Dance at Celebrate Erie on Sunday
From 5:15 - 6:00 p.m. the Erie-based trio Watan will perform. Watan is comprised of Mustafa Albalkhi on oud (a kind of lute), Nibal Abd El Karim on vocals, and Belal Al Dehnah on doumbek (a hand drum). Watan is the Arabic word for home and they present traditional and popular songs from the Arab speaking world. The music ranges from heart wrenchingly beautiful to joyously rhythmic. Nibal says, “You may not understand our lyrics in Arabic, but the melody will talk to you. Music is like food. If you don’t try it, you won’t know the taste…Music reminds me that life is short and to focus on what is most important.”
From 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. Victoria Angelo and her children will present an African dance performance and workshop. Victoria learned dance growing up in Uganda and South Sudan. She says, “We Acholi and Lulubo people do not sing and dance for fun alone. It is used by our entire community to both celebrate and mourn. It is how we keep our tradition, culture and history. You can burn a book. Your phone battery can die, but the songs in our hearts and brains are safe. I want people to see the movement of my culture. It is interesting and fun. They can also try to dance a bit with me. It helps us be healthy, too.”
Celebrate Erie is run by the Mayor’s Office and is a three day celebration of Erie food, art, and music. The Family Stage is on East Perry Square just south of the fountain.
Both presentations are possible through support from
