Noura Mint Seymali, the celebrated Mauritanian singer and instrumentalist, is set to receive the prestigious 2025 WOMEX Artist Award, recognizing her profound contributions to the global music landscape. The announcement marks a significant moment for Mauritanian music and for Seymali’s career, highlighting her unique ability to blend ancient traditions with contemporary sounds.
The Esteemed WOMEX Artist Award
WOMEX (Worldwide Music Expo) is globally recognized as the most international and culturally diverse music meeting, serving as a pivotal platform for professionals and artists within the global music scene. Established in 1994, WOMEX facilitates a trade fair, showcases, conferences, film screenings, and networking sessions, fostering cross-cultural exchange and career development. The WOMEX Artist Award, first introduced in 1999, celebrates artists who demonstrate exceptional mastery, artistic distinction, dynamism, and creativity, utilizing music as a potent medium for positive change. Previous recipients include a diverse array of international luminaries, such as the Kronos Quartet (USA), Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan), and Hermeto Pascoal (Brazil), underscoring the award’s significant international recognition within the MUSIC industry.
Noura Mint Seymali: A Legacy of Mauritanian Music
Born into a lineage of esteemed Moorish praise singers, poets, and musicians, known as griots, Noura Mint Seymali carries a rich musical heritage. Her upbringing was deeply immersed in the classical Hassaniya repertoire, rooted in Arab, Berber, and sub-Saharan traditions. She learned from family mentors, including her grandmother, who taught her the ardine, a traditional harp exclusively played by women. Seymali also followed in the footsteps of her celebrated stepmother, Dimi Mint Abba, a legendary Mauritanian singer often referred to as the “diva of the desert.” Her father, Seymali Ould Ahmed Vall, was also a seminal figure who modernized Mauritanian music and developed its first system for melodic notation.
Seymali began her musical journey at the age of 13, performing as a supporting vocalist with her stepmother. This early exposure laid the foundation for her own innovative approach to Mauritanian classical music.
Musical Innovation and Global Resonance
Noura Mint Seymali, alongside her husband and longtime collaborator, guitarist Jeiche Ould Chighaly, has forged a distinctive musical path. Together, they masterfully integrate traditional instruments like the ardine and the tidinit (a lute) with modern psychedelic rock and microtonal electric guitar lines. This fusion creates a sound that is both deeply rooted in tradition and vibrantly contemporary. Seymali’s vocal delivery is renowned for its clarity and control, breathing new life into classical Hassaniya poetry.
Her international debut album, “Tzenni” (2014), and its acclaimed follow-up, “Arbina” (2016), both garnered widespread critical praise and topped world music charts, significantly expanding her international reach. Her ability to connect with diverse audiences, including those who appreciate AMERICAN MUSIC on their own terms, has been a hallmark of her career. A new release, “Yenbett,” is slated for November, further showcasing her evolving artistry. Seymali’s performances have captivated audiences worldwide, including appearances at major festivals such as globalFEST in the United States.
Impact and Recognition
The 2025 WOMEX Artist Award is a MAJOR recognition of Noura Mint Seymali’s impact on the global music stage. By skillfully adapting Mauritania’s classical traditions for contemporary audiences, she has not only preserved a vital cultural heritage but also introduced it to new listeners worldwide. This award celebrates her dedication to musical excellence, her role as a cultural emissary, and her success in bringing Mauritanian ARTIST voices to international prominence. This news underscores the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the global music scene.
Noura Mint Seymali’s achievement at WOMEX reaffirms her status as a leading figure in world music, poised to continue her influential journey and inspire future generations.
