Naseer Shamma to perform at El Sawy Culture Wheel on Sept 12

CAIRO – 4 September 2017: Maestro and oud player Naseer Shamma will hold a concert in the Wisdom Hall at El Sawy Culture Wheel on September 12 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

He was born in El Kout, Southern Iraq in 1963 where he graduated from the Baghdad Academy of Music in 1987 as an oud player.

He left Iraq several times as he was accused of defaming the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Inspired by Iraqi ancient civilization and the problems in his homeland, he is well known for composing ‘Bent Familia’ (1997), ‘News Time’ (2001), ‘Winter in Baghdad’ (2005) and ‘Mary's Dream’ in which he tackled children’s suffering in Iraq.

He founded the Arab Oud House in Cairo in 1999 with the Cairo Opera House to promote the characteristics of the soloist alongside with Al Oyoun Group in Cairo in 1999 based on a workshop system that gives a musician a high value in the musical field and promotes his relationship with musical instruments used by the traditional Arabic orchestra Al-Takht, which was famous in the Abbasid era and usually consists of more or less five playlists.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova has named him a UNESCO Artist for Peace during a ceremony that took place in UNESCO headquarter on February 23, 2017 in recognition of his efforts to promote peace by his performances and for his charities and humanitarian associations such as "The Flower Road" and Ahlma to help children and displaced people.