WOMAD

Reem Kelani

From United Kingdom, Palestine

It's one of the bittersweet truths of life that great suffering often produces great music – you only have to think of the mournful spell of the Delta blues or the potency of black South African music under apartheid. Few have suffered more than the Palestinian people in recent decades and their cause deserves more voices like those of Reem Kelani. Not that the UK-based vocalist sings overtly militant lyrics: in many ways her decision to perform traditional songs and set to music the words of celebrated Palestinian poets is an even more powerful affirmation of national and cultural identity. Her debut album Sprinting Gazelle - Palestinian Songs From The Motherland And The Diaspora received fine reviews across the board and has done much to introduce Palestinian music to a non-Arabic audience. She's also a dynamic live performer who's been described as enjoying a "feisty rapport with her audience". Be warned...