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about the authors & works
Alima Hamel
Alima Hamel (born 1974 in Nantes, France) is a poet, lyricist and
singer of Algerian origin. A member of the musical ensemble
Monkomarok
for ten years, she sang her own compositions as
well as works by Fernando Pessoa and Henri Michaux. Going solo
in 2008, she currently heads a trio ensemble and participates
in several other French, world music and experimental music
projects.
Influenced by Marguerite Duras and Emily Dickinson, her poems
and songs depicts women on their quest for life and freedom,
with intimacy never far from view. Reflecting on her creative
existence between two cultures, Alima notes: “My words have
two languages: French and Algerian. French – because it is the
languageofmy day-to-day life, it allowsme toeasily appointwords
to light or grave thoughts, to give a spontaneous or considerate
meaning to my actions, my doubts… Algerian is the language that
comes from the depth of souls, says the unspeakable, dares the
impudent, the painful, the marvelous… I would not be able to go
without one or the other.”
Translated from French by Anna Navrotskaya.
You can hear Alima’s terrific compositions performed in original
French mixed with Algerian Arab dialect
here.