Libana

Libana stands out as a feminist ensemble dedicated to reinterpreting global traditions of ethnic and spiritual music centered on women, with performances spanning college campuses, folk and ethnic gatherings, plus women-centered music and cultural festivals throughout North America. The ensemble originated in 1979 when twenty-five women assembled to investigate songs created by, for, and about women across varied styles. Although the women’s music movement was thriving then, these founders sought a distinct path by examining such material through an explicitly cross-cultural lens.

Membership has since contracted from twenty-five to eight, yet five of the present members have shared the stage for more than fifteen years. Seven recordings have appeared, among them the 1991 release Fire Within on the feminist Ladyslipper imprint and the 1993 Shanachie albums Sojourns and Borderland, the latter pair issued by the world-music label. Night Passage followed in fall 2000. Through all personnel shifts, the group’s commitment to cross-cultural exploration has remained the defining thread of its repertoire.