The Cultural Affairs Department at the American Embassy in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture invited the American choir, “Joyful Voices of Inspiration,” to participate in the International Festival of Sufic Music and Song, scheduled from August 15 to August 25. The American choir will perform at the al-Ghawri Dome in the al-Hussein neighborhood, a Cairo suburb, at 9:00 p.m. on August 15, 16 and 17. This event, hailed a landmark in cultural exchange between Egypt and the U.S., marks the first American participation in the festival. “Joyful Voices of Inspiration,” a Boston-based choir that melds traditional gospel music with more modern classics, is a significant force on the American music scene. The music illustrates the African-American experience – both in the strictly Christian tradition and in its spiritual history. The choir has performed in countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.