Born and raised in the Saharawi refugee camps lining the frontier between Algeria and Western Sahara, Aziza's life has been marked by both daunting hardship and inspired will. Fleeing from these camps and the regime of political oppression that followed Morocco's 1975 invasion of Western Sahara, as a young teenager Aziza travelled to Cuba for her secondary school studies. There she experienced first hand the deep Cuban economic crisis of the 1990s and the subsequent denial of her request to pursue a university degree in music.

Music had been Aziza's passion since she was a small girl and despite this setback she returned to the Saharawi camps in Algeria and began singing and playing in different musical ensembles, a process that continued when she moved to Spain in the year 2000. There she founded the eclectic Saharawi/Spanish band Gulili Mankoo with whom she released two acclaimed self-produced recordings: the EP 'Mi Canto' (2008) and an album 'Mabruk' (2012), both on Reaktion, a French label specializing in Saharan music. In the last years Aziza has performed extensively appearing at major festivals and venues including WOMAD Cáceres (2012) and the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London (2009).

Aziza's new album 'Soutak' ("Your Voice"), her debut for the Glitterbeat label, is her first recording to predominantly focus on the cadence of her majestic voice and the soulful critique of her lyrics. The album was produced by Chris Eckman (Tamikrest, Ben Zabo, Dirtmusic) and was recorded live and direct in Barcelona in June of 2013.

The hand picked band she assembled for the album consists of Spaniards Nico Roca (percussion) and Guillem Aguilar (bass), Malian Kalilou Sangare (acoustic lead guitar), Aziza's sister Badra Abdallahe (backing voice) and in addition to singing, Aziza contributes acoustic rhythm guitar and the tabal, the traditional Saharawi hand-drum.

The music on 'Soutak' is a powerful and nuanced mixture of musical cultures and features Malian, Spanish, Cuban and contemporary Anglo-European motifs all held together by Aziza's deeply rooted knowledge of traditional Saharawi song and sound.

Though the songs on 'Soutak' can be unsparing in their details of oppression, there is more often than not a "smiling breeze" to be found. Aziza's essential voice, headstrong commitment and subtly inventive music are that breeze. Aziza Brahim has delivered an empowered flight to freedom; an alternative world where hope is imminent and dancing is justified.

Tube: King's Cross
https://www.facebook.com/events/671043946267654/
Tickets: £14 adv + bf from WeGotTickets (http://www.wegottickets.com/event/263358) & TicketWeb (http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/) / £16 on the door

Visions of Sound (September 2020)

Every month, we bring you a collection of the best world music-related videos. That’s our way to give value to too often overlooked, rich and diverse artistic expressions. Listen with your eyes! Watch the full playlist: TweetSharePin0 Shares

Artists: Ana Tijoux , Asian Dub Foundation , Aziza Brahim , Bigyuki , Deradoorian , Ghetto Kumbe , HHY , Lous and the Yakuza , Luedji Luna , Mas Musiq , Nubiyan Twist , Populous , Sumac Dub , The Kampala Unit , U-Zhaan , Urban Village

Album Review: Aziza Brahim – Sahari [Glitterbeat Records; November 2019]

Sahari is an exciting new step for Aziza Brahim featuring more electronic elements than her previous two Glitterbeat albums Soutak and Abbar El Hamada. The different soundscapes and instrument arrangements of each track give a coherent arc to the music and storytelling. Unlike her previous albums which were recorded as…

Artists: Aziza Brahim

Review: Aziza Brahim @ Union Chapel (London, 22nd September 2016)

You simply need to look at her, her eyes and expression to understand the nature of the experiences, adventures and encounters that Aziza Brahim has gone through in her life. The Sahrawi singer/songwriter, true mouthpiece of her people’s daily fight to be recognised, has spent her entire existence as a…

Artists: Aziza Brahim

Interview – Aziza Brahim (April 2016)

Aziza Brahim’s new album Abbar el Hamada (out now on Glitterbeat) blew us away on first listening with its haunting tales of a life spent in refugee camps. It was therefore a great pleasure to get the chance to interview this important singer. Exiled as she is from the country of…

Artists: Aziza Brahim

Preview: WOMAD Charlton Park 2016 (Malmesbury, 28th – 31st July)

WOMAD UK 2016 edition will also be the 10th on the grounds of Charlton Park, that’ why the organisers are already going all out to celebrate the anniversary… You just have to take a glance at the first name announced for the upcoming 34th edition of the event, which will take…

Artists: Afriquoi , Aziza Brahim , Baaba Maal , Baloji , Dom La Nena , George Clinton , Hot 8 Brass Band , Ibrahim Maalouf , Moh! Kouyaté , Sidestepper

Album Review: Aziza Brahim – Abbar el Hamada (Across el Hamada) [Glitterbeat]

The new album by Barcelona-based singer Aziza Brahim from Western Sahara is a masterpiece in the expression of displacement felt by the thousands of refugees from her homeland, of which she is one. Produced with sparkling clarity by Chris Eckman (who also worked with Bassekou Kouyate and Tamikrest) Abbar el…

Artists: Aziza Brahim