Tanta

Tanta (Egyptian Arabic: طنطا Ṭanṭa  pronounced [ˈtˤɑntˤɑ], Coptic: ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲁⲑⲟ) is a city in Egypt. It is the country's fifth largest populated area, with an estimated 429,000 inhabitants (2008). Tanta is located 94 km (58 mi) north of Cairo and 130 km (81 mi) southeast of Alexandria. The capital of the Gharbia Governorate, it is a centre for the cotton-ginning industry and the main railroad hub of the Nile Delta.

Overview

Tanta is known for its sweets, eaten during the mulid (Arabic: المولد‎) festivals. The main streets are Al-Bahr (Algeish) Street, Al-Galaa Street, Al-Nahaas Street, Hassan Radwan Street, Saeed Street and El-Helw Street.

Tanta has cotton ginning factories and textile industries, and is also a university town (Tanta University since 1972) and an institute attached to the Al-Azhar University in Cairo as well as the seat of a Metropolitan of the Coptic Church.

This city comes to life in late October at the end of the cotton harvest. About two million people from around the Delta and other parts of the Arab world come for the Moulid of Sayid Ahmed el-Badawi, which is an eight-day celebration. The moulid is centered around the Mosque and Tomb of Sayid Ahmed el Badawi. El Badawi was the founder of one of Egypt's largest Sufi orders called Badawiya. He was born in Morocco, but emigrated to Arabia. He was sent to Tanta in 1234 as a representative of the order from Iraq. He was given permission to start a new order in Tanta and it soon flourished. His tomb was destroyed in the mid-nineteenth century but another was built and is the center of the festival. During the festival many sugar-coated nuts called 'hubb el 'Aziz' ('seeds of the Beloved Prophet') are eaten. They have been considered a delicacy since ancient times. The Museum of Tanta contains collections from the present day back to Pharaonic times.

Ana Carolina

Ana Carolina Sousa (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɐ̃nɐ karoˈlinɐ], born September 9, 1974 in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil) is a Brazilian singer, composer, and musician.

Career

Carolina has a contralto vocal range. Her musical influence comes from the crib, her grandmother used to sing on the radio, and her great aunt and uncle played percussion, piano, cello, and violin. She grew up listening to Brazilian musical icons such as Chico Buarque, João Bosco, Maria Bethânia as well as international icons such as Nina Simone, Björk, and Alanis Morissette. She began her career singing in local bars.

With the determination to become a successful professional musician she left Minas Gerais and moved to Rio de Janeiro. Shortly after moving to Rio de Janeiro she signed a contract with the BMG recording company. She released her first CD, Ana Carolina in 1999, which was responsible for her nomination in the Latin Grammy Awards.

Her second album, Ana Rita Joana Iracema e Carolina was another success, released in 2001. The album's title is in reference to songs by the singer Chico Buarque, one of Ana Carolina's idols. This album contained hits like "Quem de nós dois" and "Ela é bamba".

Seu Jorge

Seu Jorge (born June 8, 1970; Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsew ˈʒɔʁʒi]) is a Brazilian musician, singer/songwriter and actor. Born Jorge Mário da Silva, he was raised in a favela in what is now known as the city of Belford Roxo, near Rio de Janeiro. When he was 19, he became homeless and remained homeless for three years; nonetheless, his musical talent flourished when he was living in the streets and he became known in the favelas. He is considered by many a renewer of Brazilian pop samba. Seu Jorge cites samba schools, and American soul singer Stevie Wonder as major musical influences. Jorge is also known for his role as Knockout Ned in the 2002 film City of God. His work has notably received praise from several of his fellow musicians such as Beck and David Bowie.

Biography

As a singer, Seu Jorge was part of the band Farofa Carioca, writing most of the songs of their 1998 debut album Moro no Brasil. In 2001 he released Samba Esporte Fino, a pop album influenced by musicians Jorge Ben Jor, Gilberto Gil, and Milton Nascimento. It was released outside Brazil under the name Carolina in 2003. His second album, the critically acclaimed Cru ("Raw"), was released in 2005. Seu Jorge also recorded the live duo album "Ana & Jorge" with Brazilian singer Ana Carolina, released in Brazil in 2005.