Music of Western Sahara

Sahrawi music shares much in common with neighbouring musical traditions such as those of Mauritanian and southern Moroccan. The Tbal is the basic instrument of percussion, though the traditional string instrument called Tidinit, has largely been replaced by electric guitar.

The first Sahrawi music LP, entitled Polisario vencerá, was recorded live in Barcelona, in 1982 by the band Shahid El Uali.

From 1998, Nubenegra (Spanish music label) marketed several Sahrawi music CDs in the United States and Germany, with a first release of a three-disc box set from 1998 entitled Sahrauis: The Music of the Western Sahara (catalogue number INT 32552). Featured artists in the compilation were singer Mariem Hassan, Leyoad, guitarist Nayim Alal and singer Aziza Brahim. Meanwhile, American label Rounder Records released their own compilation Starry Nights in Western Sahara in 2000.

In 2002 Mariem Hassan and Leyoad released a collaboration album, Mariem Hassan con Leyoad. Then, in 2005 Nubenegra edited Mariem Hassan first solo album, entitled Deseos (Wishes). Her last work is the album Shouka (Thorn), in 2009.

In 2003 Nubenegra edited the album Nar from guitarist Nayim Alal.

On November 8, 2007 Tiris released the album Sandtracks on British label Sandblast Records.

In 2007, the American label Sublime Frequencies edited the album Guitar Music from Western Sahara, from the Dakhla-based band Group Doueh. On June 2009, Group Doueh released the album Treeg Salaam (Streets of Peace).

In 2008, Aziza Brahim self-released her first EP, entitled Mi Canto (My Song).

See also

• Aziza Brahim
• Mariem Hassan
• Nayim Alal

External links

• Sample and download Sáhara, Tierra Mía
• Sample and download Mariem Hassan con Leyoad
• Info, Audio & video samples
• Mariem Hassan INTERVIEW
• Starry Nights in Western Sahara
• Listen to starry-celebration sample
• Listen to samples from Medej CD, Mariem Hassan, Nayim Alal et al at CDRoots.com
• Advance of the new CD of Mariem Hassan