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African American
Related: About this forumRhiannon Giddens opera: Omar
https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/us-omar-ibn-said-slavery-opera-story-islamic-scholarOmar: The opera that tells the story of an enslaved Islamic scholar
Omar ibn Said wrote an Arabic autobiography during his enslavement in the US that is the inspiration for a new production
Charleston, South Carolina, was one such port, with over 100,000 West Africans being shipped there. On one of those ships was Omar Ibn Said, a 37-year-old Islamic scholar of Fulani descent.
His story is less well-known than that of abolitionists and former slaves, such as Olaudah Equiano and Frederick Douglass. However, a new opera attempts to rectify this and bring his narrative to light.
Named Omar, it follows Ibn Said's spiritual journey from Futa Toro, a desert region between present-day Mauritania and Senegal, through his enslavement in North Carolina under a man called Johnson and later by General James Owen of Bladen county.
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Estimated over 30% of enslaved Africans were literate Muslims. Omar was a Koranic scholar. His autobiography written in Arabic is the basis for Rhiannon Giddens new opera Omar.
Rhiannon is known for her country/bluegrass/early American music but began her career in opera. She is also a MacArthur genius grant recipient.
https://m.
Rhiannon Giddens: "Julie" (original)
First sung in public at the invitation of Peggy Seeger.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/tuesday-may-31-2022-rhiannon-giddens-tablo-1.6471119
Rhiannon interview with Tom Powers/Q on the morning of Omar premier.
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Rhiannon Giddens opera: Omar (Original Post)
cbabe
Jun 2022
OP
cilla4progress
(24,728 posts)1. Will listen - adore her!
Our new leading lady of song.
Oh my.
She sang at the national Memorial Day concert.
Pure magic!
mopinko
(70,089 posts)2. you should crosspost in music appreciation.
love her. i didnt know she started in opera, but not surprised.
cbabe
(3,541 posts)3. Yes, thanks, already did. I love her, too.