Somali Sister Musicians FAARROW to embark on 3-City Minnesota Tour

The Cedar Cultural Center announced an upcoming Midnimo residency with Somali sister musicians FAARROW taking place March 19th to April 10th, 2019.

FAARROW is the project of sisters Iman and Siham Hashi, who were born in Mogadishu, Somalia. After fleeing their home to escape civil war, the sisters and their family relocated to Toronto, Canada as refugees. Iman, meaning “FAITH” and Siham, meaning “ARROW” gives light to the group’s name, FAARROW. Their sound fuses African rhythms with modern production resulting in a drum-heavy fusion of world, hip-hop and pop music. The sisters released their EP “LOST” in 2016 with Warner Brother Records.

In 2017 FAARROW made their debut at SXSW for the “ContraBanned” showcase highlighting artists from countries affected by Trump’s travel ban. FAARROW is currently working on a new album set for an independent 2019 release. Iman and Siham also serve as United Nations Spokespeople with the UN Refugee Agency and are actively involved with humanitarian efforts for other human rights organizations. They recently launched a podcast called “PowHer” that discusses spirituality, mental health, soul health, mysticism, healing, culture, identity and beauty through their eyes as recording artists, refugees, and black Muslim women living in a patriarchal world.

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Midnimo, the Somali word for “unity,” is a program that presents the world’s leading Somali musical artists in the form of month-long residencies. Midnimo aims to increase understanding of Somali culture in Minnesota, which is home to the largest Somali immigrant population in North America. The program was launched in 2014 in collaboration with Augsburg University, and in 2016 expanded into Greater Minnesota. During residencies, Midnimo artists connect with Minnesotans through in-depth community engagement across the state, including activities like workshops, class visits and education programs, discussions, and live performances in Minneapolis, Mankato, and St. Cloud.

One hallmark of Midnimo is the opportunity for Somali singers and musicians of a variety of genres to perform with a live band – a practice that nearly died out in the wake of war in Somalia in the early 1990s. While in Minnesota, FAARROW will be working with the music collective Astralblak, who will learn the sisters’ music and perform as their live backing band during the residency. Astralblak, known for their exploratory modern sound that merges hard grooves, Afrofuturist themes and soulful melodies, consists of musicians/producers MMYYKK, Proper T, Greg Grease, DJ Just Nine, and Art Parté. FAARROW and backing band Astralblak will conduct performances and community-based activities in Minneapolis, Mankato, and St. Cloud, with a public live finale performance in each city. Primary partners for this residency include The Cedar and Augsburg University in Minneapolis; Somali Community Barwaaqo Organization and Minnesota State University Mankato Area International Festival in Mankato; and Paramount Center for the Arts and St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud.

“We look forward to creating a beautiful experience with Midnimo for the first time! We’re so excited to play our music live with Astralblak,” says FAARROW. “It will be magical.”

A full list of residency activities will be announced in the coming weeks. Public finale performances will take place on the following dates:

Minneapolis: The Cedar Cultural Center on Friday, April 5th, 2019. Doors open at 7:00 pm, show at 8pm. $10 advance / $15 day of show. FREE at the door with Augsburg ID. Get tickets.

Mankato:  Minnesota State University, Mankato Centennial Student Union Ballroom on Sunday, April 7th, 2019. Doors 8:30pm, show at 9pm. FREE admission / FREE parking.

St. Cloud: Paramount Center for the Arts on on March 30, 2019 7:30PM. Tickets are free for children and students with an ID, otherwise $10.

Source: Cedar Cultural Center