Mariem Hassan (1958-2015)

[split] One of North Africa’s great singers, Mariem Hassan’s upbeat desert blues and Hassaniya laments made her a hero among Sahrawi communities. Forced to flee her homeland with her family as a child, Hassan spent much of her life in a refugee camp in southern Algeria. Using a blend of Sahrawi instruments, rhythms and protest lyrics in her songs, she campaigned persistently on behalf of the Sahrawi community throughout her career. This song ‘Haiyu’ was released as a single in 2009. This post is part of the biweekly Brownbook Music Series.