Emel Mathlouthi: From revolution to global stages, this Tunisian icon is creating feminist anthems that inspire change

Emel Mathlouthi, the US-based Tunisian singer-songwriter who is renowned as the 'voice of the Tunisian Revolution', is celebrating the first anniversary of MRA — her remarkable 12-track album made entirely by women that became a powerful feminist ode centring women's strength, passion, and lived experiences.  

“I wanted to prove that women can get together and that our approach in music-making is revolutionary," Emel tells The New Arab, adding that MRA is unlike anything anyone has produced before.

"When we get together, we build a force that can inspire and change things,” the musician adds. 

Thirty women from 22 countries around the world teamed up with Emel to work on the album, from sound engineers and music producers to artistic directors and other singers and musicians. 

“We like to say that we’re the ‘United Colours of Emel,’” she laughs, stating that a female-produced album was something that was long needed in the music industry. 

The Tunisian protest icon 

Pushing the boundaries is something that Emel has been doing her entire musical career, and her lyrics have always been a tool for change.

From as early as the late ‘00s, Emel had been creating music that called for change in Tunisia, with songs that were critical of former president Zine-al Abidine Ben Ali’s government.

But it was her track, Kelmti Horra (My Word is Free), which brought the artist to the forefront.

In January 2011, Emel was filmed singing Kelmti Horra in front of a burgeoning crowd of protesters during a demonstration in Tunis. The performance went viral, making her famous overnight, and Kelmti Horra went on to become the anthem for the Tunisian revolution and the Arab Spring.

Since then, her music has only continued to grow and evolve. But Kelmti Horra remains a treasured track. She performed the song at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in 2015 and revealed that audiences continue to request it at the end of most of her concerts.  

Today, Emel is known and loved for her ethereal vocals, her theatrical performances and Avant Garde fashion.

It’s hard to pinpoint the genre her music falls into — it is certainly alternative, and each of her tracks has different musical influences, from classical to progressive house, and synth music to trap-hop.

Not being identified or categorised by a singular musical genre is something Emel says she intended. But what is incredible is that her voice pairs well with everything.

“Throughout the years, I struggled with the Western vision of the music industry and who someone like me should become,” she says.

“In Tunisia, I grew up listening to classical music and metal. So, music to me has always been a huge mix of things, and I integrate all of that in what I do in a very spontaneous and sincere way. It makes some kind of combination that I think works really well in my shows. But I would say it’s a new genre; some people like to call it art pop.” 

While some have tried to define her as a political artist, Emel sees herself as more of a conscientious one and says this is something that is needed in the Arab music industry.  

“Conscientious art and music are always marginalised,” she says. “So, we need to push the idea that art is responsible, meaningful, creative and emotional. Alongside mainstream Arabic music, we need to push an Arab alternative.” 

Unwavering support for Palestine 

At the centre of Emel’s conscientious music is her solidarity with Palestine. She has been singing about Palestine since 2007, when she first recorded her track, Naci en Palestina, Spanish for “I was born in Palestine.”

In it, she sings in Arabic and pays homage to Palestinians and the loss of their homes, land and basic human rights. With the song being just as relevant 18 years after she first sang it, it’s a painful reminder that Palestinians have been suffering for many years. 

However, unfortunately, Emel says in Tunisia, her unwavering support for Palestine has sometimes been met with backlash.

In August 2023, she was accused of normalisation with Israel when she went to perform in Bethlehem, Ramallah and Israel-annexed East Jerusalem, despite it being a Palestinian tour for Palestinian audiences. She says it was a misinformation campaign, which she believes the media created in an attempt to undermine her.  

“When I performed in Palestine, there was a whole movement in Tunisia that criticised me because they consider that no one should go there until Palestine becomes free,” she explains.

“But when you go to Palestine, Palestinians are begging for us to visit so that they’re not isolated. They want us to go there and sing for them. People there told me that I gave them hope and strength for months and years," Emel tells The New Arab.

“There are groups that celebrate anytime there's a Westerner or white artist that takes a stance on Palestine, which of course should be celebrated; I understand how important it is to get support from the mainstream, but we also need to protect each other. We need to protect our own voices.”  

Despite the backlash she received from Tunisian media in 2023, it has not put Emel off from producing more music in solidarity with Palestine.

Recently, she collaborated with Turkish musician Coşkun Karademir to turn the late Refaat Alareer’s poem If I Must Die into a song. 

“Karademir and I wanted to create a song together,” Emel explains. “I think it was right at the moment that Refaat got martyred, and to me, I couldn’t think of a better tribute than to preserve his words in a melody that they deserve.

"I think we really did those powerful words justice in a very beautiful and moving way; the song brings me to tears every time. I think that's how we connect the dots between each other: the poet, the musician and the activist. We have to keep connecting the dots and keep uplifting each other.”  

[Cover photo credit OlaPhotos]

Emel’s music can be streamed on Spotify, iTunes and Apple Music. Her latest single, Souty (DeLaurentis Remix), is out now

Yousra Samir Imran is a British Egyptian writer and author based in Yorkshire. She is the author of Hijab and Red Lipstick, published by Hashtag Press

Follow her on X: @UNDERYOURABAYA