SAHARIENNES
A celebration of the common heritage of women from neighboring Saharan countries : Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara and Mauritania
with Noura Mint Seymali, Souad Asla, Dyghia Mo-Salem, Malika Zarra, and Jeiche Ould Chighaly (guitar, Tidinit),....
All these internationally renown women singers and musicians are rooted in deep Saharan culture.
Sahariennes celebrates the common heritage of women from Mauritania, Algeria, Western Sahara and Morocco.
The Sahara desert has long been an object of fascination for Europeans seeking exotic sensations in what they viewed as a fantasy land full of mirages, phantasmagoric tales and mysterious women. Saharan women, however, have very little to do with the western clichés they are associated with. Sahariennes is a tribute to the vitality and artistry of women from neighboring Algeria, Morocco, The Western Sahara and Mauritania. The four extraordinary singers bring forth their common musical heritage and life stories to create a powerful musical experience.
Beyond the conflicts that have often defined relations between their respective countries, these women share traditions that are closely related as well as a desire to be heard as artists in societies where it is not always easy.
Whether sacred or profane, berber, tuareg or gnawa, music from all sides of this saharan border belong to the same family. By sharing their heritage and creating new works, these women are united against the tribulations of daily life and geopolitics.
NOURA MINT SEYMALI, who comes from a long line of griots, is the great Mauritanian singer of her generation.
DIGHYA MOH SALEM despite the hardships of her life as a refugee, has spent a lifetime updating the Sarahoui tradition.
SOUAD ASLA is a longtime advocate for women musicians from Southern Algeria - in particular in her work with the group Lemma.
MALIKA ZARRA is a Moroccan singer with a cosmopolitan flair who hopscotches between traditional music, jazz and collaborations with musicians from the most diverse horizons.
Women of the region have long been the repositories of cultural tradition, the real shaman of the rituals of daily life. Their musical knowledge and virtuosity is rarely on display on public stages, but is omnipresent in the rituals of daily life - marriages, ceremonies and most social gatherings are their private stages. This is a unique opportunity to see these women create a public work.
The Sahariennes joined forces with songwriter and producer PIERS FACCINI who provided some artistic supervision.
Sahariennes premiered at the Lyon Opera House in June of 2021 and despite the pandemic, has already been showcased at major French venues and festival, including: Festival Africolor (Paris); Institut du Monde Arabe (Lille/Tourcoing), Les Traversées de Tatihou (France); Le Rocher de Palmer (Bordeaux); Théatre National d’Orléans (France)...
with many more European dates already planned for 2022 and 2023
Sahariennes is a particularly elegant project, spearheaded by some the most respected women musicians of the regions, and that emphasizes the deep artistic role that women play beyond transnational conflicts.
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- NOURA MINT SEYMALI (Singer lead, Ardin) AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ON REQUEST for 2023-2024
- SOUAD ASLA (Singer lead)
- DIGHYA MOH SALEM (Singer lead and Tbal)
- MALIKA ZARRA (Singer lead)
- Mohammed Abdennour "Pti Moh" (Guembri, Mandole)
- Jeiche Ould Chighaly (guitar, Tidinit)
- Mohammed Menni (Percu, Bendir, Darbouka ...)
- Anne-Laure Bourget (percu, Calebass, Bendir, Daf ...)