Front-woman,
lead singer, & anthropologist Galeet Dardashti follows a family tradition
of distinguished musicianship dating back to 19th-century Persia. But
it was down in Austin, Texas, where Divahn's bold all-woman Mizrahi/Sephardi
ensemble began dazzling audiences with its Middle Eastern grooves. Today,
Divahn has engendered an international following, infusing traditional
& original Jewish songs with sophisticated harmonies, entrancing improvisations,
& funky arrangements. The group's thrilling live shows include eclectic
instruments such as tabla, cello, violin, didgeridoo, doumbek, & vocals
spanning Hebrew, Judeo-Spanish, Persian, Arabic, & Aramaic.
As one of the few groups performing Mizrahi & Judeo-Arab music in
the US, Divahn shares with its audiences a beautiful sphere of Jewish
& Muslim culture that many have never experienced in person. Divahn,
a common word in Hebrew, Persian, & Arabic, means a collection of
songs or poetry. Through their music, the group creatively underscores
common ground between diverse
Middle Eastern cultures & religions.