Trafika Europe 6 - Arabesque

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.

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