logo4.GIF (12375 bytes)

    Board of Directors:

       Wafaa' Al-Natheema, Founder, Director   INEAS_1994@yahoo.com or INEAS@aol.com 

       Rose Riskalla, Clerk      

       May Roberts, Secretary  INEAS@aol.com and filmwriting2004@yahoo.com 

       Richard Sullivan, Coordinator    RichardSullivan1942@yahoo.com 

 

        Advisory Board:

       Kenneth Raffol, CPA

        Attorney Ellen Stevenson

*********************

 

    About the Founder

Wafaa' Al-Natheema was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq. She came to the USA in January, 1980 to study civil engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. She chose to come to the USA, not because she specifically intended to live in the USA and not because there are no civil engineering colleges in Iraq, but because of certain circumstances and of her ardent belief, since the age of twelve, in being independent and making a living on her own. She chose Northeastern University (NU) for the coop program, which requires students to alternate between study and work. Ms. Al-Natheema completed her bachelor’s degree in 1986.

Following her graduation, Wafaa' worked at construction and design companies such as Anderson & Nichols in Newington, CT., George Hyman Construction Company, Turner Construction Co. and others in Boston. Due to her interest in being her own boss, she left her engineering work and established her own tutorial business in November 1987. The Private Tutor was the name of the business that she founded and directed all through December 1990. Starting in January 1991, she incorporated the business and diversified its programs as well as changing its name to the Boston Institute of Technology & Education (BITE) which was located in Somerville, Massachusetts. Fifteen part-time teachers and tutors worked at this company at one point or another covering a variety of subjects such as languages, sciences and computers. In 1993, the scope and name of the business was changed again and until 2001 the business operated under Cambridge Institute of Tutoring & Education (CITE) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Wafaa's education, work experiences and accomplishments between 1988 and 1993 can be accessed at http://wafaasportfolio.blogspot.com/2008/06/accomplishments-education-and-work.html 

In September/October 1994, which was a crucial year for Wafaa', she founded the Institute of Near Eastern & African Studies (INEAS), an independent, non-profit organization with the mission to educate the public and inform the media on issues related to Africa and Asia focusing on the Arab and Islamic worlds.  In the same month, she organized a poetry evening with the famous Iraqi poetess, Lamee'a Abbas Amara. The evening was very successful and included Ms. Amara's poetry recited by her in Arabic and by Wafaa' Al-Natheema in English. The event, which included dinner and Arabic music, was well publicized among the various communities and in the media including an article about Ms. Amara in the Patriot Ledger. A month after the poetry evening, Wafaa’ traveled to Paris and London to interview Iraqi composer Naseer Shemma, renowned artist, Hasan Masoudy and Iraqi (woman) architect Jala Makhzoomy.

All the educational projects, cultural events and lecture series between 1995 and 1999 featuring Iraqi musician and composer Naseer Shemma, the Zannobiya Productions and "Cultural Episodes of the East and Africa" can be accessed at http://wafaasportfolio.blogspot.com/2008/06/accomplishments-education-and-work.html 

1998 was the year in which INEAS's projects and events (Wafaa's accomplishments as well) had the most media exposure locally, regionally and nationally as in the following media outlets:

These articles can be viewed at  http://www.ineas.org/media.htm

In July 2000, Ms. Al-Natheema joined the DeWolfe real estate office in Needham, Mass, working in real estate sales.  Her last day at DeWolfe was on Friday December 21, 2001.   In December 2000, she became a member of the National Writers Union (NWU).

Wafaa' organized (through INEAS) the tour of Hussein Al-Athamy and The Tchalghi Baghdadi (HATB) which took place in Cambridge, MA. and Washington, DC in October/November 2000.  The ensemble, which arrived from IRAQ, included the renowned Maqaam singer, Hussein Al-Athamy,  famous oud player, Ali Al-Imam and Jawza player, Dalia Yaqoob.   To order Al-Athamy's concert on video or DVD, click on http://www.INEAS.org/products.htm

Simultaneously, she began working on the tour of Farida and the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble (FIME) and was able to solicit interested co-sponsors such as World Music Institute (in New York), the Smithsonian (in DC) and Department of Cultural Affairs (in IL).  The greatly successful tour in four States (including Mass.) took place in May 2001 and was publicized in the New York Times, The Chicago Tribune and other publications.  Farida's Mawwal and Folkloric CD can be obtained from  http://www.INEAS.org/products.htm

In 2004, Wafaa' published her first poetry book, "Untamed Nostalgia -- Wild Poems".  More information about the book including how to order it can be found by visiting http://www.INEAS.org/products.htm or by accessing http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=21330  

In August 2005, Wafaa' produced her first CD of poetry and songs entitled, "Halamanteeshi" which featured her songs at age four collaged with her singing now.  She also mixed the beautiful voice of her deceased uncle (who died in 1965) with her own singing.  The CD features Iraqi children songs, lullabies and folkloric songs.  Nine of the 12 songs have been composed and vocally interpreted by Wafaa'.   About the story of Halamanteeshi as well as information regarding the CD and how to order it, click on http://www.INEAS.org/products.htm   About the story of Halamanteeshi, you can access http://zanjabeel-saffron.blogspot.com/2007/03/wafaa-al-natheemas-new-cd.html . To order the CD, click on http://whttp://www.INEAS.org/products.htm 

Ms. Al-Natheema participated in the PEACE Festival beyond the DMZ  2005 in South Korea.  She negotiated a contract with the Korean organization to promote two Iraqi musicians (living in Jordan) to perform at the Festival.  She also gave a performance of poetry and songs on August 26, 2005.  A detailed report about the Peace Festival and her visit to S. Korea can be accessed at http://www.INEAS.org/specialreports.htm#Korea   Few video clips from the Orchestra performance at the festival and at a Buddhist temple visited by Wafaa' can accessed at our Youtube account http://www.youtube.com/user/INEAS 

In June 2006, Wafaa' presented a paper entitled "The History of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra," at the the second World Congress on Middle Eastern Studies in Amman, Jordan.  The paper was presented at a panel on Ancient and Modern Middle Eastern and Central Asian Expressive Cultures.  Wafaa' video recorded this panel and four other panels in that congress.  Her presentation can be made available on CD.  The other four panels are available on DVD from INEAS.  In July 2006, Wafaa' started the INSO blog to document the history of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra (INSO). It can be accessed at http://INSONewsletter.blogspot.com 

In March 2007, Al-Natheema gave two workshops at the Colorado State University on "Pedagogical Comparisons: U.S. & Gulf State Education Systems".  More details on the workshop can be accessed at http://events.colostate.edu/day.asp?cd=3/21/2007&ID=7 

In November 2007, Wafaa' began the editing of the documentary film, "Remembering Aref" from an interview she's done with former Iraqi president, Abdul Rahman Aref in June 2006 in Amman.  The film, which focuses on the life and political accomplishments of the late president, is scheduled for release in the fall 2008.

In December 2007, Wafaa' traveled to India and interviewed legendary actors (of the 1950s and 1960s) Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh.  She will be directing a documentary film about their life and career, scheduled for release in 2008/2009.

                                                                                                        

For a List of Presentations & Performances since 1987, click on:

http://wafaasportfolio.blogspot.com 

Wafaa' can be reached at:

INEAS:

P.O. Box 425125
Cambridge, MA 02142  USA
Tel (617) 86-INEAS (864-6327)  Ext. 3
Fax (617) 864-6328
Website: http://www.INEAS.org  
E-Mail: INEAS@aol.com  or INEAS_1994@yahoo.com