Pioneering African Artist Nawal to Perform at Traditions Cafe, Olympia

Nawal – The Voice of Comoros
Monday, October 24, 2005
Show Time: 8pm
Traditions Fair Trade Cafe, 300 Fifth Ave SW, Olympia
Tickets: $12, $8 student/low-income
Advance tickets at Traditions, 360-705-2819

Born into the Muslim culture of the Comoros Islands off the eastern coast of Africa, Nawal is the first Comorian woman to give public performances as a singer/songwriter. Although she has faced many socio-religious barriers, her music is infused with global values of love, respect and peace.

As a child, Nawal was surrounded by such diverse musical traditions as reggae, afro-jazz and blues guitar. After living in France as a young adult, she returned to her Indian Ocean island heritage and rediscovered her cultural legacy. Blending the rhythms of her roots with Sufi chanting and Indo-Arabic-Persian influences, Nawal found her own voice and released her first solo CD in 2001. She also contributed tracks to the compilations Women of Africa (Putumayo, 2004) and Island Blues (Network, 2002). Joining Nawal on her 2005 USA tour are Idriss Mlanao on bass and Melissa Cara Rigoli on percussion.

Tickets for the 8pm show are $12 general, $8 students/low-income. Advance tickets are available at Traditions Fair Trade.

“Between the traditional and contemporary, this singer weaves a dialogue of cultures. This is an acoustic music, but before all, spiritual” – Armanda Dos Santos, L’Huma Hebdo

“Sweet African music from the Indian Ocean.” – Pump

“Nawal radiates a great beautiful light and wonderful energy.” – Stephen Kent, “Music of the World” KPFA radio.

“This sound is absolutely indicative of the melting pot that is the musical style of these islands, representative of the countless cultural convergences that have taken place throughout their history.” – Rootsworld.com

For more information, visit http://www.nawali.com or http://traditionsfairtrade.com