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"WILD FLOWER" is an opera based on the true story of a Romanian-Sierra Leonean girl in Africa, written by the heroine, Nina Smart, who fled FGM and dedicated her life to raising awareness about this human rights violation.
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ABOUT

Young Geanina is asked to choose between her Romanian family and a stranger, her biological father, a diplomat from Africa.

Her choices send her spiraling towards initiation into a secret society.

While in Africa, Nigeria teaches her how to be rebellious, Sierra Leone tests her courage and Geanina carves her own destiny by fleeing to the United States. Wild Flower explores themes of power in tradition, patriarchy, race, heritage, love, womanhood, West/Non-West, migration, and body politics.

CREATED AND CONCEIVED:

Wild Flower the opera is a project of the International Brazilian Opera Company developed in partnership with writer and activist Nina Smart. We've asked you to visit this page because you may be capable of assisting in the commission, donation, and sponsorship for this significant Women and Human Rights story. Let's start a conversation.

CONTACT US

athena@brazilianopera.com
203 W.111th Street, 4A NYC, NY 10026

ABOUT

TEAM

TEAM
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NINA SMART

LIBRETTIST​

 

Dr. Nina smart is a human rights activist, sociologist, author, and poet working to educate people about female genital mutilation (FGM)and to eradicate the practice in Sierra Leone and the globe. Smart’s unique biography, places her inside and outside ofSierra Leonean culture, allowing her to make important in roads in Sierra Leone. In 2004, Dr. Smart foundedServicing Wild Flowers –SWF International, a non-profitNGO that raises awareness about FGM. 

 

Women Empowerment Initiative at UC Irvine launched her memoir, Wild Flower: the True Story of a Romanian Girl in Africa, in 2014. Dr. Nina Smart was chosen as 2016 ‘Woman of the Year’ for her non-profit work by Senator Mendoza of California. In 2018, the City of Downey recognizedDr. Smart with the Coordinating Council Volunteer Award. Her artistic efforts were recognized by the Romanian Ministry of Culture. Dr. Smart, a Soroptimist, inspires action by sharing her story and solutions to end FGM non-violently.​

​​​​​JOÃO MACDOWELL

COMPOSER

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Artistic Director of IBOC and Resident composer, João MacDowell will apply his praxis of polyculturalism and polyharmony to incorporate Romanian, Nigerian and Sierra Leonean music into the composition for Wild Flower. Noted by the Swedish press as “a new thinker in the genre” (Johanna Paulsson, Dagens Nyheter),the Brazilian composer has a career that spans from punk to opera. João MacDowell had his first Symphony premiered by the National Orchestra of Brasilia and isthe author of five operas, including Tamanduá (Boston Metropolitan Opera Award), Plastic Flowers, and The Seventh Seal with libretto by the late Ingmar Bergman.

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ATHENA AZEVEDO

VISUAL DIRECTOR​

International award - winning creative director, photographer, and, IBOC executive director, Athena Azevedo, will oversee the team, visual concept, and marketing development of the "Wild Flower".

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