Moorish Music from Mauritania

Khalifa Ould Eide, Dimi Mint Abba | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 10, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Umvd/Ryko
• ASIN: B0000023UY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #324,455 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > World Music > Africa > Mauritania

Track Listings

1. Waidalal Waidalal

2. Yar Allahoo

3. Hassaniya Song for Dancing

4. Hassaniya Love Poem

5. The Tortoise's Song

6. Independence

7. Art's Plume

8. Oh Lord Bring Apartheid Crashing Down!

9. Mauritania My Beloved Country

10. My Young People Do the Youth of Nations Invite

11. Autoot

Editorial Reviews

Dimi Mint Abba is one of the few artists from the northwest African country of Mauritania to have an album released internationally and is widely regarded as Mauritania's best-loved female singer and folklorist. Respected musicians such as Ali Farka Toure and Youssou N'Dour have openly expressed their admiration for her talents. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift to an unsuspecting world, October 21, 1999

By 

Clive Wing (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moorish Music from Mauritania (Audio CD)

When I asked for this wonderful music to be played over the sound system of my local record store, there were complaints about "Islamic music" from people of other faiths. What they failed to see is that the messages of these devotional, patriotic, new and old songs, all of which are sheer poetry, speak universal truths. Even without the English lyrics provided in the sleeve, the intensity and beauty of these performances leave you in no doubt that this is a deeply spiritual and happy music. And what music! Accompanied by her family on acoustic Mauritanian and electric instruments, Dimi mint Abba's voice is astonishing. With a vocal dexterity that seems to defy the impossible, she makes light of quarter tones and intricate scales heavily influenced by the Arabic tradition. The mesmerising purity of her voice is difficult to describe. Not knowing Mauritanian music at all, the nearest comparison I can make is with the Indian devotional music tradition. But there again, Miss Dimi's voice often reminds me of the range and intensity of Maria Callas and the quicksilver fluidity of Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing! Which means that this is an unique performance; a gift to an unsuspecting world. I have just one other Dimi mint Abba CD on a French label. I hear she is much loved in Arabic speaking Africa and the Middle East. So one can live in hope that her fans are demanding more recordings which will eventually find their way to our part of the world.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Acousitc and Electric Music, March 28, 2007

By 

achdukleidustein "none" (Vladivistock) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moorish Music from Mauritania (Audio CD)

Amazing Female and Male Vocals, Hypnotic Trancelike Acoustic Set followed by Electric Set that will make you want to get up and dance.

Dimi Mint Aba is now a world music superstar; it is tragic her stuff is unavailable and out of print in the USA. Is it a masonic conspiracy, or just too much brittany spears. Would like to hear this on the loud speakers at whole foods and not just the same ole same ole 60's rock.

for more on African culture and the Mauritaneans: Africa Adorned

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best CD I have heard in Years!, September 22, 2000

By 

Droven Lindel (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moorish Music from Mauritania (Audio CD)

WHY OH WHY is this CD no longer available? I got it out of the library a long time ago and have attempted to order it twice. It no longer appears in music stores in the U.S. This CD is one of the most beautiful, inspiring, and passionate recordings EVER! Please. . . someone find me a copy. . .