“Art’s Plume (Sawt Elfan)” (1990) – Khalifa Ould Eide and Dimi Mint Abba * Written by Seymali Ould Hamad Vall and Ahmedou Ould Abdel Qader * Produced by Nick Gold and John Hadden * CD: Moorish Music from Mauritania * Label: World Circuit
The late Moorish singer Dimi Mint Abba’s clarion vocals relayed key cultural info in songs that stretched out like the sand-dune landscapes of her native Mauritania. Her 1990 album on the World Circuit label, a collaboration with Khalifa Ould Eide on the West African lute, gave her a boost in overseas recognition. This song features especially dextrous instrumentation and lyrics to live by: “Art’s plume is a balsam, a weapon and guide enlightening the spirit of men.”