Noura Mint Seymali - Mauritania

Noura Mint Seymali is a Mauritanian singer, composer, and instrumentalist, from a family of griots (traditional West African musicians, poets, and storytellers). She was born in Mauritania and grew up in an influential musical family: her father, Seymali Ould Ahmed Vall, was an important composer, and her stepmother, Dimi Mint Abba, is considered one of the country’s most renowned singers. 

At a young age, Seymali began her musical career; from the age of thirteen she performed as a backing vocalist for her stepmother and learned to play the ardin, a traditional nine-string harp that in Mauritania is primarily played by female griots. Her work combines Moorish musical traditions with influences from pop, rock, and so-called “desert blues,” often featuring electric guitar parts by her husband Jeiche Ould Chighaly.

Since forming her band in 2004, Seymali has built an international reputation. Her album Tzenni (2014) marked her international breakthrough, followed by Arbina (2016), in which her powerful vocals and innovative style take center stage.  She is regarded as one of the most important contemporary representatives of Mauritanian music, successfully connecting traditional forms with a modern, global sound.