Noura Mint Seymali (MR)

The voice of the desert
Noura Mint Seymali is one of the leading and most innovative artists from Mauritania. In recent years, she has developed into a major voice on international stages. Central to her music is the ardine, a traditional Mauritanian harp traditionally played by women. The instrument has a soundbox made of a hollow gourd and a long neck with multiple strings, usually between ten and sixteen.

Together with her husband and guitarist Jeich Ould Chighaly, descended from a long line of griots, Seymali creates a deep and hypnotic sound. In their music, centuries-old Moorish roots merge with the raw energy of desert blues and psychedelic rock. The result is a layered sound world in which poetry, rhythm, and melancholy take center stage.

Seymali's work is internationally acclaimed for its intense vocals and powerful stage presence. With albums such as Tzenni en Arbina she reached a worldwide audience. In 2025 appeared Yenbett ('it grows' in Hassaniya), an album that gives traditional Mauritanian songs a new, adventurous energy.

In August 2025, Noura Mint Seymali received the WOMEX Artist Award, a prestigious distinction for artists who excel in musical craftsmanship and demonstrate a unique artistic vision and positive influence through their work.