The Cedar in Minneapolis, Minnesota will partner with Somali musician, Aar Maanta, to produce the first-ever bilingual album of children’s songs titled, Children’s Songs from the Somali Diaspora. Working with his band and other musicians from Minnesota, Aar Maanta will collaborate with Somali youth in Minneapolis’s Cedar Riverside neighborhood to write and record the album, which will be released and performed live at the Cedar in 2019.
“The Cedar has been building a cherished relationship with Aar Maanta for many years,” said Jessica Rau, Program & Artistic Director at the Cedar. “Our past residencies with him have been significant and meaningful for all of the people he has reached through his time in Minneapolis. The Joyce Award will deepen this impact by allowing Aar Maanta to collaborate with youth in our neighborhood to produce a tangible album of new work that will reach people around the world and last for generations to come.”