Emel Mathlouthi (EMEL)
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Emel Mathlouthi was born on 11 January 1982 in Tunis. She sang from childhood, set up a metal band in adolescence, and then composed songs in Tunisian Arabic worn by her guitar alone. Her song "Kelmti Horra" ("My word is free"), written in 2007, became the anthem of Tunisian demonstrations in 2011 and made it known throughout the world; she performed it during the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo.
Set between France and the United States, she built a singular work: "World I Love" (2012), "Ensen" (2017), "Everywhere We Looked Was Burning" (2019), where Arabic singing meets electronics and rock. In 2024, "MRA" — an album recorded with an entirely feminine team — marked a new summit, led by a world tour.
From Dougga to La Cigale, Emel continues to make each concert a celebration of freedom and beauty, faithful to the voice that revealed it.