Mauritania's Maalouma Mint El Meydah garners worldwide acclaim

01/05/2009

Mauritanian Senator Maalouma Mint El Meydah is a star on the global music scene. She talks with Magharebia about her life as an artist, politician and ambassador for peace and religious tolerance.

By Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 01/05/09

[Wedoud] Music is the only global language that can bring humanity together, Maalouma says.

Maalouma Mint El Meydah, a member of the Mauritanian Senate, is also gaining international recognition as an ambassador of Mauritanian art. Her sweet vocals carry the yearnings and concerns of her desert homeland to a growing global audience. Maalouma recently performed at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, luring more fans to her world-unifying songs. Magharebia interviewed the celebrated star about her political life, her visit to the United States and the message in her music.

Magharebia: What was the purpose of your recent visit to the US?

Maalouma: To represent Mauritania in one of the biggest international events in the US. I received an invitation from the Kennedy Centre, one of the leading cultural venues. It was a big event with a huge attendance. I was selected by the festival committee as a global artist who sings in Arabic.

Mauritania was previously categorised under "African music". We have only recently been added to the map of global music. In other words, I managed to book a front row seat in the matrix of Arabic music, whereby I get invited to key global events.

Magharebia: How was your performance received?

Maalouma: The audience was huge and had a good time, to the point that there were no empty seats. I felt proud and uplifted, thanks to the self-confidence I got from the audience. I felt powerful like never before. It is difficult to describe those moments.

Magharebia: This was your third visit to the US. What do you think about America?

Maalouma: American society is very kind, civilised, down-to-earth and respectful of foreigners. That is why I appreciate it immensely. Quite frankly, the US impresses all its visitors, especially on their first visit. Everything looks big: buildings, cars, food, clothes. Nonetheless, everything is in harmony. When you go for a walk around, you see that the way houses were built kept nature intact. Nature looks as great as ever. This is indeed genius. The urban city did not impair nature. Harmony continues to rule everything and harmony results in beauty.

What impressed me the most was the American musical ingenuity. The harmony observed in construction and nature can also be seen in art. I noticed that American tunes are well-studied, and the techniques they use are wonderful, leading them all the way to the top. Personally speaking, I admire Americans for their creativity and for their fine musical taste.

[Wedoud] Maalouma and her band performing at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, USA.

Magharebia: What advice can you give aspiring performers?

Maalouma: Art is not something you pass down to others. Art is about personal abilities one inherently has.

I recall the sacrifices I made and the suffering I had to go through, which, I guess, very few people are aware of. It was anything but easy. I assumed the roles of a poet, composer and lyricist all together. My sole goal, in doing all that, was to bring Mauritanian music to the world. I was determined to realise that goal by all means.

I also wish to note that the state has a role to play here. If the state does not undertake its job, and an artist is short on financial resources, the artist is not to blame.

Magharebia: You are now a member of the Senate, a politician and an artist. You also come from a well-known family. How did you manage to reconcile arts and politics? Is there a conflict?

Maalouma: I do not think so, because human nature is diverse, drawing on emotions of fury, sadness, and love. I go through all that, as a human being, and I try to express it. An artist, after all, is a human being who experiences several states of mind and seeks to somehow express them.

Some may have ambitions in politics, as well as overwhelming feelings which they aspire to vent through art. I grew up in a special environment. My father was equally well-versed in culture and politics. Given that background, I felt, as a young girl, displeased with the racial segregation that was taking place around me. We cannot change history, but we can learn from it. Therefore, in a nutshell, you can say that my political vibes can be traced back to the house where I grew up.

[Wedoud] Maalouma defies those who find singing discordant with Islam.

Magharebia: Do you think music can help unify cultures and overcome differences among nations?

Maalouma: I believe that music is the only global language that can bring humanity together. It is the language of souls through which to deliver a message serving everyone: peace and security. Or, it can be used to get across a message of hate and aggression. I believe that the global elite of music can change mentalities and purify them, if they want to.

Music can change mentalities and concepts and educate societies. Music is a cultural tool, just like cinema. We have seen how Star Academy changed life in Arab states and in the Gulf, in particular. In the past, it used to be unacceptable to send girls to apartments to live alone with boys they do not know. This is now acceptable, though years ago, it was previously unthinkable. That is the very definition of the impact of arts and the media.

Magharebia: What do you say to those who see a conflict between your art and your religion?

Maalouma: I was raised with some fine Muslim values at home, such as visiting neighbours and caring for them, showing kindness to parents and respecting the elderly. I love those habits and am proud of them. However, whatever involves oppressing others is totally unacceptable. Likewise, I cannot condone social segregation in terms of masters and slaves. Religion cannot account for that.

Some rigid mentalities believe that singing is unlawful, laughing is wrong and life is a strict camp. That disfigured the image of religion in the eyes of others and scared them away. The truth is, that rationale is rejected, unjustifiable and has nothing to do with Islam. What is unlawful is stated clearly in the Glorious Qur'an and Prophetic Tradition. We need to reconsider our culture, as creativity needs freedom to live.