Waayaha Cusub, meaning “New Era”, is a Somali hip-hop collective founded in Kenya in 2002 and led by lyricist and rapper Shiine Abdullahi Ali. With a message that challenges militants and extremist politics, Waayaha Cusub is recognized for its artistry as well as its activism. As leaders who speak out against war, violence, and oppressive leadership, the artists have endured death threats and violent attacks. Regardless, the band has pressed on, receiving positive media coverage by CNN, Rolling Stone, Vice Magazine, The LA Times, BBC, and others. In 2013, Waayaha Cusub established and headlined the “Somali Sunrise Tour for Peace,” a series of concerts in East Africa that culminated in the first music festival in Somalia since the start of the civil war in the early 1990s. The Festival included six concerts and reached over 2,000 people, including a group of 850 former al-Shabab youth at a rehabilitation center. The group was recently granted asylum in the Netherlands where they are completing their newest album, Nabad Waa Muhim (“Peace is Vital”). The group is the subject of a documentary by Humanitarian Bazaar, “Live from Mogadishu: Somali Hip Hop’s Journey to Help End the War,” which covers the group’s controversial tour and climaxes with the backlash at the Mogadishu concert.
Residency Schedule
Sunday, October 2
3:00 pm | Airport Welcome! Waayaha Cusub Arrives in Minneapolis | It is a Somali tradition to welcome out-of-town guests by meeting them at the airport and making them feel at home!
6:00 pm | Waayaha Cusub Welcome Dinner
Monday, October 3
1:50 pm - 3:20 pm | Classroom Visit: “Music AugsSem” with Augsburg College faculty member Jill Dawe | Waayaha Cusub will share their background and stories, getting to know the students during this first of four meetings.
Thursday, October 6
5:50 pm - 7:30 pm | Classroom Visit: “Small Instrumental Combos Rehearsal” with Augsburg College faculty member Dain Estes | Waayaha Cusub will attend the rehearsal of instrumental combos that are hip hop/rock/fusion groups and jam with the student musicians.
Saturday, October 8
8:00 pm | Concert Hangout: Waayaha Cusub and Augsburg’s Music AugSem Class will attend Bombino with Special Guest at the Cedar Cultural Center together.
Sunday, October 9
8:00 am | Twin Cities Marathon Cheer Zone! DJ Go Getta and members of Waayaha Cusub will spin Somali music and cheer on the runners of the Twin Cities Marathon
Monday, October 10
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Midnimo Workshop with Waayaha Cusub | Learn to craft original songs using traditional and contemporary music and storytelling practices in the hands-on workshop with the members of Waayaha Cusub at the Cedar Cultural Center. All Ages. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday, October 11
9:40 am - 11:20 am | Classroom Visit: “Percussion for Music Educators” with University of Minnesota Professor Dan Albert | Waayaha Cusub will join the students in music making during their class time.
11:50 am - 3:30 pm | Classroom Visit: “Materials of Music 1B” with Augsburg College faculty member Jill Dawe | Waayaha Cusub will share their background and stories with students.
6:00 pm | Living Room Concert | Waayaha Cusub will attend a Living Room Concert with the band IFRIKYAH SPIRIT. Private event.
Wednesday, October 12
11:10 am - 12:20 pm | Classroom Visit: “Materials of Music I and Fundamentals of Music” with Augsburg College faculty member Jill Dawe | Waayaha Cusub will talk about the materials of their music: melodies, rhythms, how notation works or doesn’t, what instruments they use, how their music gets created, and how the music is learned and rehearsed.
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Midnimo Workshop with Waayaha Cusub | Building on the first workshop, students will work on their original songs using traditional and contemporary music and storytelling practices in this hands-on workshop with the members of Waayaha Cusub at the Cedar Cultural Center. All Ages. Free and open to the public.
Thursday, October 13
9:40 am - 11:20 am | Classroom Visit: “Percussion for Music Educators” with University of Minnesota Professor Dan Albert | Waayaha Cusub will join the students in music making during their class time.
5:50 pm - 7:30 pm | 5:50 pm - 7:30 pm | Classroom Visit: “Small Instrumental Combos Rehearsal” with Augsburg College faculty member Dain Estes | Waayaha Cusub will attend the rehearsal of instrumental combos that are hip hop/rock/fusion groups and jam with the student musicians.
Friday, October 14
10:00 pm | Heiruspecs Concert | Waayaha Cusub will attend and perform a song during the Heiruspecs concert at Icehouse on Nicollet Avenue. Open to the Public. $13 in advance. $15 at door. Tickets available at www.Icehousempls.com
Saturday, October 15
6:00 pm | Shukran Gure Dinner | Shukran Gure is the first Somali Minnesotan elected to Kenyan Parliament. At this important dinner Falis, the only female member of Waayaha Cusub will meet with Shukran to talk with her about their roles as women in male dominated fields and the challenges and futures they both face. Waayaha Cusub will also be sharing of poetry about their masterpiece song “Your People.” Private Event.
Monday, October 17
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Midnimo Workshop with Waayaha Cusub | Building on the first two workshops, students will dig deep into their original songs using traditional and contemporary music and storytelling practices in this hands-on workshop with the members of Waayaha Cusub at the Cedar Cultural Center. All Ages. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday, October 18
11:10 pm - 12:20 pm | Classroom Visit: “Materials of Music 1B” with Augsburg College faculty member Jill Dawe | Waayaha Cusub will share their background and stories with students.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Daytime Education Program | Members of Waayaha Cusub will give a fun and active presentation to students, teaching them about their music, lives, and love of music.
Wednesday, October 19
11:10 pm - 12:20 pm | Classroom Visit: “Materials of Music I and Fundamentals of Music” with Augsburg College faculty member Jill Dawe | Waayaha Cusub will talk about the materials of their music: melodies, rhythms, how notation works or doesn’t, what instruments they use, how their music gets created, and how the music is learned and rehearsed.
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Midnimo Workshop with Waayaha Cusub | Building on the three previous workshops, students will perform their original songs with the members of Waayaha Cusub at the Cedar Cultural Center. All Ages. Free and open to the public.
Thursday, October 20
8:00 am | Classroom Visit: "Music, Society, and Cultures" with University of Minnesota professor Matt Ranhaim | Waayaha Cusub will visit the class and talk about their roles as musicians and what their messages reflect upon society.
Saturday, October 22
8:00 pm | RESIDENCY MINNEAPOLIS FINALE CONCERT at the Cedar Cultural Center. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 8:00pm. $20 Advance. $25 day of show. Tickets available at www.thecedar.org
Tuesday, October 25
2:00 pm | Radio Interview on KVSC 88.1 | Waayaha Cusub will be interviewed in English on St. Cloud State radio station, KVSC 88.1
3:00 pm | Radio Interview on KVSC 88.1 | Waayaha Cusub will be interviewed in Somali on St. Cloud State radio station, KVSC 88.1
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Boys & Girls Club Visit: Waayaha Cusub will meet with youth who are in a music club, share their stories and then share a meal together.
Wednesday, October 26
4:30 pm - 6:15 pm | Boys & Girls Club Visit: Waayaha Cusub will meet with youth who are in a music club, help them compose their own hip hop pieces, and then share a meal together.
Thursday, October 27
9:45 am - 10:30 am | Classroom Visit: Discovery Elementary will meet and hear the members of Waayaha Cusub perform a few songs during an all school ensemble.
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm | Classroom Visit: “Ethnic Studies” with St. Cloud State University faculty member Darlene St. Clair. Waayaha Cusub will meet with 100 students and share their story as well as perform some examples of their music.
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm | Somali Student Association Visit. Waayaha Cusub will meet with students from the SSA to talk about their shared stories.
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm | Boys & Girls Club Visit: Youth who are in a music club and have been writing songs throughout the residency with Waayaha Cusub will practice performing their masterpieces on the stage and then perform their pieces for the entire Boys and Girls Club at dinner.
Friday, October 28
8:00 pm | RESIDENCY MANKATO FINALE CONCERT at the Kato Ballroom. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 8:00pm. $15 Advance. $05 day of show. Tickets available at www.thecedar.org
Monday, October 31
1:00 pm - 1:50 pm | Classroom Visit: “World Drumming” with St. Cloud State University. Waayaha Cusub will join the class and play some music together.
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm | Classroom Visit: Students from Tech High School will meet with members of Waayaha Cusub for a Q&A.
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Radio Performance on KVSC 88.1. Waayaha Cusub will hold an in-studio performance, live, on-air.
Tuesday, November 1
10:30 am - 11:45 am | Classroom Visit: A youth music production group from North Junior High will meet the members of Waayaha Cusub and learn about what it takes to produce music.
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm | Apollo High School - A youth music group from Apollo High School will have a meet and greet with the members of Waayaha Cusub.
Wednesday, November 2
9:00 am - 9:45 am | Classroom Visit: Talahi Elementary will meet and hear the members of Waayaha Cusub perform a few songs during an all school ensemble.
1:00 pm - 3:05 pm | Classroom Visit: “First Year Seminar” with College of St. Benedict students. Waayaha Cusub will meet with 100 students and share their story as well as perform some examples of their music.
7:00 pm – 7:45 pm | Bethany Lutheran Church Visit: Members of Waayaha Cusub will visit with youth in Bethany Lutheran Church’s confirmation classes to talk about how their spirituality effects their music making and daily lives.
Thursday, November 3
9:30 am – 10:45 am | Classroom Visit: “World Music” at St. Cloud State University. Waayaha Cusub will meet with students and share their story as well as perform some examples of their music.
12:30 pm - 1:50 pm | Classroom Visit: “History of Rock” with St. Cloud Technical College faculty member Hilary Vermillion. Waayaha Cusub will meet with students and share their story as well as perform some examples of their music.
Friday, November 4
7:30 pm | RESIDENCY ST. CLOUD FINALE CONCERT at the Paramount Theater. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. $20 Advance. $25 day of show. Tickets available at www.thecedar.org