Global Ambassadors of Musical Diversity, SULTANS OF STRING, will shine a light on the Plight as well as the Extraordinary Contributions of Refugees with its Cannes World Film Festival winning Documentary, Sultans of String: The Refuge Project – Visual Album, at the FESTIVAL OF ARABIC MUSIC & ARTS, Nov 2, 7:30pm with tickets here, at the Unitarian Congregation, 84 S. Service Rd, Mississauga, ON L5G 2R9.
Winning a CFMA for “Global Roots Album” and “Producer of the Year” for their “Sanctuary” CD, this Billboard charting band’s film features music and interviews from this recording as well as sister album “Refuge”, both served up under lockdown.
This 95 minute Mississauga debut screening will be featured at the Festival of Arabic Music and Arts FAMA2023, and will be followed by a Q&A with bandleader and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient Chris McKhool (Makhoul in Lebanon), Syrian refugee Leen Hamo, hosted by Raja Khouri of Khouri Conversations.
Mixed in full Dolby Atmos, this ambitious, diverse, inclusive, and passionately expressive film puts this world music supergroup face-to-face with a VIP roster of global ‘ambassadors,’ some of whom are recent immigrants and refugees to Canada and the U.S., side by side with essential Indigenous voices. All are masters of global music that communicate with each other through the universal language of music.
Addressing the struggles of life on Mother Earth has always inspired this band. In Sultans of String: The Refuge Project – Visual Album, they bring their unique brand of musical synergy and collaboration to bear on discussion and songs that speak to the challenges facing the world’s displaced peoples—their stories, their songs, their persistence and their humanity.
Joined by an international cast, this three-time JUNO nominated band immerses themselves in the plight of the international refugee, and the humanitarian response that should greet everyone in search of a home.
McKhool (whose paternal, Makhoul, grandfather was from Lebanon) explains, “The larger Refuge Project is centred around the positive contributions of refugees and new immigrants to Canada and the United States. We are bringing in special guests that are newcomers to this land, as well as global talents that have been ambassadors for peace. We wish to celebrate the successes of those who make the journey here and bring their extraordinary talents with them, in this case, music. Each one of us has a remarkable story to tell, and we are excited to share the beauty of these collaborations with you.”
The Refuge Project features stellar performances by Ahmed Moneka and Imad Al Taha, refugees from Iraq, Syrian refugee Leen Hamo, Donné Roberts from Madagascar with partner Yukiko Tsutsui from Japan, Algeria’s Fethi Nadjem, Colombian refugee Juan Carlos Medrano, Iran’s Padideh Ahrarnejad, Romani Nyckelharpa player Saskia Tomkins, tabla player Ravi Naimpally from India,sitar player Anwar Khurshid from Pakistan, string ensemble Gundem Yayli Grubu from Istanbul, and many, many more, including an orchestral version of “The Power of the Land” featuring Indigenous performers Duke Redbird and Twin Flames.
“The true inspiration behind these albums and film is the incredible artists we get to collaborate with,” says McKhool. “We learn so much from these diverse voices, and each one of them is so personally inspiring. As Ahmed Moneka, an artist and refugee from Iraq says, ‘Love is the main reason for a great future,” and we are so privileged to be able to collaborate with so many incredible voices on this project.”
The film is receiving industry recognition on the Film Festival circuit including the Cannes World Film Festival, Vancouver Independent Film Festival, Best Istanbul Film Festival, Paris Movie Festival, Montreal Independent, Hamburg Indie, Boston Independent, and Folk in Film Festivals.
