MOHAMED ARAKI
Founder

Based in Boston, Mohamed is an internationally touring keyboardist, composer, producer and founder of AL-MURTAJA, and the first Sudanese musician to be nominated in the GRAMMY awards for his work with Nigerien-born guitarist BOMBINO’s most recent full length record, “Deran.”

Hailing from North Sudan, he started playing the piano at the age of five. By the age of ten, he was already on stage with his father ABU ARAKI’s band, and later he took on the role of producing his father’s works, recording their first album in 2000.

Before moving to Boston, he was regularly on stage with MAGIC BAND, AMAL AL-NOUR, TAHA SLEIMAN, and AL-MILLIJE, and producing shows at The French Cultural Center in Khartoum, Sudan.

In 2008, Mohamed came to the United States to perform and be a part of the organization team of the Sudanese Festival of Music and Dance in Chicago, making arrangements for several different acts invited to the Festival traveling to the States. He then moved to Virginia where there’s a prominent Sudanese community.

Expanding his musical horizons, Mohamed then moved to Boston, with a scholarship to advance his education at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he served as the president of the college’s African Club.

He has also has been recording, performing and touring with internationally reowned artists including YO-YO MA, VINNIE COLAIUTA, BOMBINO, CHEB KHALED, SPIRITUAL REZ, BROOKYLN NOMADS, DEAN FORD AND THE BEAUTIFUL ONES, JOSH AND THE JAM TONES, THE DEAD MESSENGERS, and BAHLOUL.

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