Nawal bathed in both popular and spiritual music from a young age. Now living in France, today she is recognised as being a key figure from her native islands: the ever rising star of Comoros. A singer/songwriter and multi‐instrumentalist, Nawal plays guitar, gambusi (traditional lute, inherited from Yemen), and diverse percussion. Nawal states “My main instrument, before anything, is the voice.” Aptly called a "mystic pop diva", Nawal communicates something bigger than music – she has the capacity to touch people’s hearts with her powerful voice and message.
Between traditional and contemporary, Nawal’s compositions are an acoustic roots‐based fusion, a reflection of the diverse character of the Comoros and beyond. Indo‐Arabian‐Persian music meets Bantu polyphonies and rhythms mixed with Sufi trance. Nawal sings mostly in Comorian (Shikomor) a language in the Swahili family, also with French, English and Arabic. Nawal sings in favor of all humans, for education and for union. She also conserves the philosophy of her great grandfather Al Maarouf, a grand Sufi master, who was Inspired by the light of Islam founded on love, respect and peace.
A self‐produced artist, Nawal has performed professionally for over 20 years, with concerts in Europe, North America, Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East. In 2011, Nawal will release “Embrace the Spirit” her first solo album, as well as a CD/DVD recorded live with the “Femmes de la Lune” (Women from the Islands of the Moon), six women from Mayotte (French Comoros). This is a musical creation between the traditional feminine Sufi repertoire and Nawal’s worldly muse, and is also a humanitarian project to assist the emancipation of women through Art. In 2007 Nawal released her second album “Aman” (Peace of the Soul) which was awarded stunning reviews from the international press. Her first album “Kweli” (Truth) was released in 2001 (Mélodie).
|