Celebration of Nations and Twinning Anniversary to take place January 25. 2025 1-3 pm
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**Contact:**
Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County
sistercitesfranklintn@gmail.com
Celebration of Nations Event January 25, 2025
The Celebration of Nations, presented by Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County, will be held at the Williamson County Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, tickets are available for $10 this year. Tickets are available through the link on sistercitiestn.org
This event, a melting pot of international acts, promises a family-friendly extravaganza. Attendees will be treated to a diverse array of showcase performances that celebrate traditions from around the world, making it a truly unique and exciting experience.
Performers at the event include:
– The Good Bellows
The“WürstBand in Music City”?!That’s what you get when you combine the misfit instruments of the musical world: accordion, banjo, tuba, and clarinet. Throw in just enough saxophone, trumpet, percussion, Irish whistle, guitar, kazoo, recorder, drums, and vocals to make things interesting, and guess what you’ve got?! Four guys in leather shorts playing your favorite polkas and waltzes! They mix in a healthy dose of pop, standards, jazz, and country for everyone’s sanity. Since they’ve gone that far, find out what the Beatles, Disney favorites, and Lady Gaga sound are like when a polka band plays them! They may be the WÜRST, but you’ll have the best time being entertained by Good Bellows.
Music City Trad, a group of five Irish musicians and an Irish dancer, is a testament to the talent and expertise in the Irish music scene. Their energetic performances, infused with rhythm and joy, will leave the audience in awe and eager for more.
Pegah Kedivar presents a solo dance called Tarakemeh, an Azerbaijani dance that symbolizes the feelings of freedom and expansiveness rooted in the culture of the tribespeople.
The African Yeli Ensemble showcases a variety of traditional Guinean instruments, such as the kora, balafon, djembe, dundun, kanban, and kinking. These instruments predate the Mali Empire, and Ibrahima Dioubate and Sekouna Conte are esteemed djelis. Yeli Ensemble is an adaptable troupe of performers led by the Guinean master musician Ibrahima ‘Ibro’ Dioubate. Additionally, he is joined by local musicians and dancers, South African gumboots dancer & choreographer Michael Moloi, and AfricaNashville co-founder Windship Boyd.
Mel’Keta Raghba and the Nashville Raqs Sharqi Troupe will close the afternoon with a performance of the Egyptian dance style. This unique celebration blends life and expression with passion, resonating through each intricate move. The performances evoke deep human emotions and transcend cultural boundaries, speaking the universal language of passion, connection, and beauty. From the modal intricacies of classics like Umm Kalthoum to the modern elegance of Mohammad Nour, the event encourages audience participation.
Prepare to join the fun and participate in the performances by swaying, shimmying, shaking, polkaing, and dancing with all the performers.
This event will take place on the 20th anniversary of Franklin’s First Sister City signing with Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada. Mayor Ken Moore read aloud a proclamation at the BOMA meeting on Tuesday, January 14. The Proclamation will be reread on Saturday. A short reception will be held in conjunction with the musical event. Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County board members will provide refreshments.
This reception will serve as the Sister Cities’ annual meeting.