An Opera Producer and a Filmmaker: Revitalizing Christian and Jewish Neo-Aramaic with Nora Lacey and Alan Niku

Sarah Bunin Benor interviews Nora Lacey, founder of the Assyrian Arts Institute, and Alan Niku, a filmmaker and scholar of Mizrahi culture. Together, they explore the connections between their endangered Neo-Aramaic dialects: Nora’s Christian Assyrian and Alan’s Jewish Hulaulá from Sanandaj. Nora details her work revitalizing the language through the arts, including the first Assyrian opera, Gilgamesh, while Alan discusses documenting his heritage through his Dreamy Kalimi video series. The guests test their mutual intelligibility and share heritage words.

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Nora Betyousef Lacey is a philanthropist, cultural advocate, and founder of the Assyrian Arts Institute, dedicated to preserving and advancing Assyrian heritage through music, theater, and the performing arts. With a deep commitment to creating platforms for Assyrian voices, she has championed landmark projects, including the production of Gilgamesh, the first Assyrian opera. Nora’s leadership has inspired global recognition of Assyrian culture while fostering collaboration among artists, scholars, and institutions. Drawing on her professional expertise and lifelong dedication to community service, she continues to ensure that Assyrian arts thrive for future generations.

Alan Niku is a filmmaker, writer, and scholar of Mizrahi culture from San Luis Obispo, California. A native speaker of Persian, he spends his time learning related Jewish languages, including Jewish Neo-Aramaic, deciphering Judeo-Persian manuscripts, and interviewing community members about their stories. He dabbles in traditional music, cooking, and liturgy, teaches history and Jewish heritage at various levels, and seeks to teach the world about the underrepresented cultures of the Middle East through his writing and films.