Noura Mint Seymali is Mauritania’s defining artist on the international stage. Her powerful voice and hypnotic stage presence have made her a leading figure in contemporary African music.
Performing with her long-time ensemble, guitarist Jeich Ould Chighaly, bassist Ousmane Touré, and drummer Matthew Tinari, she blends the deep modal textures of the Moorish griot tradition with psychedelic guitar lines and propulsive rhythms.
After captivating global audiences with Tzenni and Arbina, Noura returns in November 2025 with Yenbett (‘it grows’ in Hassaniya), an album recorded largely in her home city of Nouakchott that reimagines traditional Mauritanian songs with fresh energy and an adventurous spirit. In 2025, Noura Mint Seymali was chosen for the Womex Artist Award for lifetime achievement.
The award recognises the achievements of an individual artist or a musical group and celebrates those who excel in the mastery of musical craft, who embody artistic distinction, dynamism and creativity, who use music as a medium of positive change, and offer a unique and committed vision.
Photo Credit: Malika Diagana
