Mauritania doesn’t have the global pop footprint of its neighbor Senegal; its local musical culture is dominated by traditional forms played at weddings and other ceremonial venues. Noura Mint Seymali is determined to change that. The griot and singer has deep roots in Moorish and Mauritanian musical traditions: she grew up singing backup for her […]
Tag: Mauritania
Posted inArts & Culture
At the Perry Mansion Cultural Center, Sam Smith wants to reshape the narrative of black life in America
The culmination of his project will be a reconstruction of a slave ship in the museum’s basement.
Posted inBlogs
Five must-see African films
Five African film classics for this Black Panther moment.
Posted inBlogs
12 O’Clock Track: “Karr,” slithering North African grooves from Noura Mint Seymali
An intensely roiling jam from Mauritanian singer Noura Mint Seymali, who performs at the upcoming World Music Festival: Chicago
Posted inBlogs
A sonic window into the glory days of postcolonial Mauritania
A previously unreleased collection of tracks by L’Orchestre National de Mauritanie reflects the heyday of the North African nation’s postcolonial hopes.
Posted inMusic
Aram Shelton returns for a tour of Chicago
Plus: A Chicago label releases a comp of Mauritanian guitar, the core of CoCoComa becomes the Marble Vanity