Ali Hassan Kuban

Ali Hassan Kuban (1929, Gotha, Egypt – 2001^[1]) was a Nubian singer and bandleader. He was known as the "Captain" or (later) "Godfather" of Nubian Music.^[1]

Ali Hassan Kuban was born in Gotha, a village near Aswan.^[2] After his family moved to Cairo, he learned to play clarinet, and in 1949 he performed with the Opera of Cairo.^[2] He also played girba (bagpipes) with his own band during wedding celebrations.^[1] During the 1950s, Ali began adding Western instruments such as saxophone, electric guitar, bass guitar, organ, trumpet and accordion to his ensemble.^[1] By the 1990s, he was performing for international audiences at events such as Midem (1993), WOMAD (1994), the Montreal Jazz Festival (1994), and Central Park SummerStage (1995).^[1]

Discography

• From Nubia to Cairo (1980), Shanachie - reissued 2001, Piranha^[3]
• Walk Like a Nubian (1994), Piranha^[3]
• Nubian Magic (1995), Mercator - reissued 1999, Blue Flame^[3]
• Real Nubian: Cairo Wedding Classics (2001), Piranha^[3]
• The Rough Guide to Ali Hassan Kuban (2002), World Music Network - compilation^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Ali Hassan Kuban". Afropop Worldwide. World Music Productions. http://www.afropop.org/explore/artist_info/ID/2/Ali%20Hassan%20Kuban/. Retrieved 2007-07-23. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Riedel, Martin & F. Hetze (2001). Album notes for From Nubia to Cairo by Ali Hassan Kuban [CD booklet]. Berlin: Piranha Musik (pir24). From Nubia to Cairo at MusicBrainz.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Discography at Allmusic

External links

• Ali Hassan Kuban at Allmusic

This article on an African singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v d e