# Libana

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{{for|the Andalusian mathematician and poet|Lubna of Córdoba}}

'''Libana''' is a Boston-based [cross-cultural](/source/cross-cultural) musical ensemble performing world folk traditions through chants, dance, storytelling, and musical performance.

Their repertoire incorporates ancient, traditional, and contemporary world folk music. Although many of their songs are performed as an [a cappella](/source/a_cappella) choir,<ref>{{Cite book |last=McColman |first=Carl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TOsnKOuELNEC&dq=%22libana%22+band&pg=PA318 |title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism |date=2002 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-02-864266-6 |language=en}}</ref> their instruments have included guitars, [hammered dulcimers](/source/Hammered_dulcimer), [ouds](/source/Oud), [bağlamas](/source/Ba%C4%9Flama), [pan flutes](/source/Pan_flute), [charangos](/source/Charango), [djembes](/source/Djembe), [davuls](/source/Davul), [frame drums](/source/Frame_drum),<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Lee B. |date=2015-04-29 |title=Libana brings world music and dance to Prairie School |url=https://journaltimes.com/libana-brings-world-music-and-dance-to-prairie-school/article_b487bc30-4335-597a-95e5-61d5c0fae5e5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809143931/https://journaltimes.com/libana-brings-world-music-and-dance-to-prairie-school/article_b487bc30-4335-597a-95e5-61d5c0fae5e5.html |archive-date=August 9, 2024 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Journal Times |language=en}}</ref> [double bass](/source/double_bass), [clarinets](/source/Clarinet), [dumbeks](/source/Dumbek_rhythms), [accordions](/source/Accordion), and [naqarehs](/source/Naqareh).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2024-07-07 |title=LibanaSingers.com - World Music A Cappella Group |url=https://www.singers.com/group/Libana/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707013810/https://www.singers.com/group/Libana/ |archive-date=July 7, 2024 |access-date=2024-08-09 }}</ref>

They focus on the divergent cultural expressions of the Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.<ref name=":1" /> They have toured in America, Canada, Bulgaria, India, Greece, and Morocco.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-02 |title=LIBANA - About Libana |url=https://libana.com/about-libana |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302031138/https://libana.com/about-libana |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024 }}</ref>

As of 2024, the collective consists of 6 musicians,<ref name=":2" /> which are likely Lisa Bosley, Allison Coleman, Linda Ugelow, Cheryl Weber, Marytha Paffrath and founder Susan Robbins.<ref name=":3" /> Libana's goals are to inspire "dynamic [cross-cultural understanding](/source/Cross-cultural_communication), profound [healing](/source/healing), and widespread [peacebuilding](/source/peacebuilding)".<ref name=":2" />

== History ==

=== Formation ===
In 1979, artistic director Susan Robbins founded the group. They began as a chorus of 25 women<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Sidman |first=Dan |title=Sound choice: Libana plays the music of women |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/entertainment/events/2014/09/25/sound-choice-libana-plays-music/36024107007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809194912/https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/entertainment/events/2014/09/25/sound-choice-libana-plays-music/36024107007/ |archive-date=August 9, 2024 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Cape Cod Times |language=en-US}}</ref> who sought to explore "music and culture specific to women".<ref name=":0" /> They were, in part, inspired by American visual artist [Judy Chicago](/source/Judy_Chicago)'s groundbreaking exhibit [The Dinner Party](/source/The_Dinner_Party), which debuted the same year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LIBANA - About Libana |url=https://libana.com/about-libana |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=libana.com}}</ref> Over time, the group "honed down to a core of [6] people that were really willing to make the lasting commitment",<ref name=":3" /> which the ensemble members has jocularly referred to as a "[long-term relationship](/source/Intimate_relationship)".<ref name=":0" /> 

The band was named for [Lubna](/source/Lubna_of_C%C3%B3rdoba) ({{Aka}} [Libana) of Córdoba](/source/Lubna_of_C%C3%B3rdoba). In 2014, founder Susan Robbins clarified that Libana's name symbolized "that women have always been creative and visionary but we might not always have heard about them through time. Her essence became a symbol for us of our mission".<ref name=":3" /> As of 2014, the group consists of Lisa Bosley, Allison Coleman, Linda Ugelow, Cheryl Weber, Marytha Paffrath and founder Susan Robbins.<ref name=":3" /> In 2014, they performed at the [First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Brewster](/source/First_Parish_Church_(Duxbury%2C_Massachusetts)).<ref name=":3" />
Drummer Marytha Paffrath described their mission:<blockquote>There’s a whole world of music out there that has been going on for centuries, and that we should all know about. We just want to make beautiful music and get people thinking.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

=== Performances ===
Before performing each song, Libana performers provide necessary historical information in "succinct, yet colorful, introductions", which audiences say are "an appreciated element of their shows".<ref name=":0" />

Since becoming a smaller group of 6 (rather than 25 at their inception), Libana has been able to travel the world.<ref name=":0" /> 

In 2011, they embarked on a musical tour of northern India,<ref name=":0" /> where they were invited to be weeklong [artists-in-residence](/source/Artist-in-residence) at the [American Embassy School in New Delhi](/source/American_Embassy_School%2C_New_Delhi).<ref name=":3" /> Afterwards, they traveled to [Barefoot College](/source/Barefoot_College), "a Ghandian educational institute in Rajathstan that teaches women from poor agricultural communities sustainable skills like solar engineering".<ref name=":3" />

In 2013, Libana became the first American act to perform at the World Music Festival<ref name=":3" /> in [Tangier, Morocco](/source/Tangier).<ref name=":0" /> While there they met female [Sufi](/source/Sufi_music) singers and percussionists in [Medina of Fez](/source/Fes_el_Bali).<ref name=":3" />

They have performed at [The Prairie School](/source/The_Prairie_School) of Wisconsin 5 times between 1980 and 2015.<ref name=":0" /> In 2015, they performed as part of the school's "Around the World in 165 Days" initiative, incorporating music, dances, and stories from [Egypt](/source/Music_of_Egypt), [Hawaii](/source/Music_of_Hawaii), [Bolivia](/source/Music_of_Bolivia), and [Malaysia](/source/Music_of_Malaysia).<ref name=":0" /> 

Circa 2015, they debuted two ancient Ukrainian songs in [Racine, Wisconsin](/source/Racine%2C_Wisconsin).<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{Portal|World|Music|Peace
}}{{Reflist}}
Category:American all-female bands
Category:All-female folk groups
Category:American dance groups
Category:Cross-cultural studies
Category:Interculturalism
Category:Ancient music
Category:Peacebuilding
Category:Musical groups established in 1979

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Libana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libana) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libana?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.