10 Unique Female Voices Take Us on a Musical Journey through the Arab World

The Arab world, undoubtedly, is extraordinary in its richness, heritage and diversity when it comes to music. Among that large group of musicians, some, including the ladies on our list, have drawn the world’s attention with their strong and fierce personalities challenging stereotypes, standing up for their integrity and creating vibrant art, thus providing a unique cultural and musical experience.

“Balad” by Yasmine Hamdan (Lebanese singer, songwriter and actress)

“When I imagine feminine characters in my songs, they’re often bold, strong, passionate, militant, witty, sensual, and dangerous. I see those characters as skillful witnesses, figures of change and awakening.” – Yasmine Hamdan

“Mandy” by Asia Madani (Sudanese singer and percussionist) 

“I sing for children, women, the youth and immigrants. Therefore, there are sensitive topics that are good for their development or healing. If your music brings or encourages chaos or is misleading people, then it shouldn’t be accessible. When I decided to be a musician, my focus was to sing for people, make them happy and dance.” – Asia Madani

“Gender Games” byTamtam (Saudi Arabian singer and songwriter)

“Choosing a career in music is not too common in Saudi Arabia. I want my role as a Saudi female musician to encourage other Saudi women to follow their aspirations, no matter what they may be.” – Tamtam

“Jessica” by Youssra El-Hawary(Egyptian accordionist, composer, songwriter, singer and actress)

“The music scene in Egypt has become significant, as it survived despite all the events witnessed by Egypt, and it has become more diverse than before with the emergence of different styles. People have also become more interested in music than ever.” – Youssra El-Hawary

“A Rose” by Terez Sliman (Palestinian singer and songwriter)

“Since I discovered the joy of singing, I submerged into it, not questioning why or if…

I sing the world and enjoy being sang by it 

I sing my heart and thoughts; I sing humankind, love and sadness

I sing Shades of freedom and the smell of solitude  

I sing rain and barefooted women

I sing in the face of injustice and agony

…

I sing the road and the momentary companion, and I adore the ability to improvise with a stranger, on the stage, with a child playing on the street, or even with my ever-present shadow.

And I’ll keep singing because singing loudly in this distorted world is my biggest bliss. “-  Terez Sliman

“In Other People’s Land” by Tania Saleh (Lebanese singer, songwriter and visual artist)

“In general, in this region, it’s not as easy to express yourself because of religion, because of society, because of how people view you as an independent person. When you can’t express yourself, whether you’re a woman or a man, it’s a problem. And it’s not because you don’t have enough guts, it’s because whatever you say isn’t going to be accepted” – Tania Saleh

“Min Elli Byekhtar” by Hiba Tawaji (Lebanese soprano coloratura singer, actress, and director)

“As a female, every development in women’s rights that gives them more freedom or protects them is an achievement that is worth celebrating for me. As an artist, the most time I felt that I was speaking the voice of people and women was at that concert (first concert by female performer in Saudi Arabia, 2017). The way women crazily sang along, especially to my song “Meen Elle Bykhtar” (Who’s the one who chooses?), especially in the part where the lyrics say that, as a woman, I will fly, and no one can take off my wings, and no one can cage the birds. That is when I believed that songs could reflect and make a difference.” – Hiba Tawaji

“Mawtini” by Faia Younan (Assyrian-Syrian singer and activist)

“When I lost my brother in 2008, I was sixteen, and singing was my remedy to heal my own soul in my room, even if there was no one listening. I used to lock myself up, play on the keyboard, try out melodies while singing. It was a way to sort out my sorrow because I was so mad, so angry, so sad that I couldn’t understand why this had happened. You think of all the memories, you have to deal with your sorrow, so I found a creative way, and I thought music was all I had. Of course, there were persons I could talk to, but I felt safer with music.” – Faia Younan

“To Sleep” byNadine Khouri (Lebanese-born singer and songwriter)

“I was in London, where I live, when I received videos from my father of our family home in shambles. I had a moment of dissociation processing the images. My bedroom was destroyed. Dismantled doors, collapsed ceilings, sprayed blood, shattered wood, shredded curtains, piles of glass… Even from abroad, the pervasive sound of crackling glass across the city had become nauseating. My father’s life had been spared; others were not as fortunate. It is hard to find the words to describe the aftermath of the horror. The stories coming out of Beirut are harrowing. What happened on 4 August will never be forgotten, and I implore the world not to forget the Lebanese people.” – Nadine Khouri

“Alb Maskoo” by Hana Malhas(Jordanian singer and songwriter)

“Everything we experience affects our style as songwriters and performing musicians. You’re moved by riffs, phrases, arrangements, performances, genres – and then you start experimenting with your own until you land on something that you know is YOU. That cycle doesn’t stop as you grow older; I think it just evolves.” – Hana Malhas