Who We Are

SILK ROADS is a non-profit arts organization of the best artist-educators specializing in traditions from the Middle-East and beyond.

We offer workshops, performances and entertainment to schools, museums, festivals and private events.

The artists are handpicked practitioners in storytelling, arts, crafts, Middle-Eastern music, and dance ― and they are equally experienced as workshop educators to adults and children.

We promise:

  • to entertain ― all our workshops and events are exciting and interactive
  • to educate ― using the inspiration of the Silk Roads, a symbol of artistic ferment and cultural tolerance
  • to include ― the workshops are suitable for young and old, male and female, and for all backgrounds

Khaled Hakim

Learned to play the daf (Sufi frame-drum) and sing Turkish ilahis (spiritual songs) in the ceremonies of a Sufi Order. He is a singer and musician as well as teacher of Sufi drumming. He’s led drumming projects at South Bank Centre, V&A, Globe Theatre, and numerous workshops with schools, museums, and festivals. Khaled is director and events organizer for Silk Roads.

Alia Alzougbi

Lebanese Alia Alzougbi is a professional storyteller and actor with an MA in Applied Theatre. A dynamic performer and adaptor of traditional tales, she received a BAFTA nomination in 2009 for her starring role in the BBC feature film ‘Trouble Sleeping’. She is also our dabka workshop leader (the traditional community dance of the Middle-East).

Rezia Wahid MBE

Award-winning Rezia Wahid is an innovative hand-weaver/artist whose work is feted by both craft and contemporary art circles. She has exhibited in Japan, USA, and Egypt, with major solo exhibitions at the Craft Study Centre and at The City Gallery in Leicester. She is Silk Roads lead arts and crafts educator, giving workshops in batik and other crafts, and live art demonstrations. Rezia received the Alhambra Award for Excellence in Art in 2004 and an MBE in 2005.

Lennie Charles

Domincan-born Lennie Charles is a London-based puppeteer and theatre practicioner. He has performed and led workshops across London including large-scale outdoor projects. He has worked at the V&A, designed puppets for London’s Thames Festival Night Carnival, and devised a show for the BBC’s 2007 literacy festival. A multi-instrumentalist (including cello, frame-drums, balafon, birambau) and Silk Roads musician, Lennie is able to lead puppet-making and storytelling workshops with a blend of music, dance, and theatre.

Fathema Wahid

A specialist practitioner in textiles silk screen printing, with over eight years of teaching experience as Art/Textiles teacher, Fathema has exhibited at Oxo Tower, Mall Galleries, Museum of London,  “Ethical Fashion Show” and IslamExpo. She has led workshops in sacred calligraphy at the Science Museum, batik painting at ‘IslamExpo’ in Olympia, and offers great versatility in a range of arts and crafts including card making, and contemporary drawing. She is Silk Roads Henna handpainting artist.

All workshop teachers have CRB enhanced disclosures and experience of teaching both adults and children.

Mission Statement

  • To foster greater awareness and appreciation of the arts and spirituality inspired by the Silk Road.
  • To create more opportunities for people to participate in events showcasing artforms inspired by the Silk Road.
  • To foster greater community cohesion and mutual respect through workshops, events, and exhibitions.
  • To present a wider perspective on arts and culture from the Islamic world to Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
  • To provide the highest quality artist-educators