Aswat Ensemble

Aswat Ensemble is a collective of musicians and singers, of all ethnicities, who present pan Middle Eastern music to the Bay Area community. Aswat Ensemble's parent non-profit organization, Zawaya, stands at the intersection of culture, art, cultural preservation, and social justice and seeks to contribute to the Bay Area’s multicultural discourse with Arab arts. Zawaya means “aspects” or “corners,” suggesting the many art forms to be discovered and enjoyed in Arab culture. It was founded in 2003 by Nabila Mango and Haya Shawwa Ben-Halim, two Arab-American women who recognized that the challenges faced by the Bay Area Arab-American community required a creative response. With Zawaya, they sought to give the Arab community a voice, including a musical one. Aiming to address stereotypes and misconceptions, Zawaya offers a genuine image of Arab Americans and their rich civilization, which can only be a source of strength for American society. Aswat Ensemble on Instagram, Facebook, and X.