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The Ithaca Journal, Feature >>
-by Jim Catalano
Dozens of musicians from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Central America have graced GrassRoots stages in recent years. This year, fans of world music will be able to add another country to that lengthy list when Nawal brings the sound of the Comoros Islands to the 2007 GrassRoots Festival for a pair of performances: 9 p.m. Thursday, July 19 on the Grandstand Stage, and 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 20 on the Infield Stage.
Known as the “Perfume Islands,” the Comoros Islands are in the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and Africa. That location has led to a blend of East African, Arabic, Indian and western influences on Comorian music.
Nawal, whose family moved to Paris when she was 11, notes that she listened to Jimi Hendrix and the Doors as a youngster in Comoros. But she has also kept in touch with the traditions of her native country when composing her original songs.
“I wanted to mix (my influences), with one foot in my roots and my other foot around the world,” she said. “When I compose, I don't know where I'm going to look for expression; most of the time, it just comes. But after, it's interesting to analyze to see what's inside, what the spirits bring me.”
The first Comorian woman to perform onstage with an instrument, Nawal plays guitar and the gambusi, which is similar to a banjo. “Maybe 40 years ago, the women from a good family would have to stay in a kind of closet,” she said. “They could see outside, but they couldn't be seen until they were married. They would be able to play music, but it would have to be in a women's or family group, not on stage. I'm the first woman who began to play in public.”
Nawal tours in a trio that also includes her brother, Idriss Mlanao, on bass and vocals, and Bay Area native Melissa Cara Rigoli on mbira, percussion and vocals. Their sound is captured on “Aman,” Nawal's latest CD, which contains a dozen songs that showcase her range of influences.
“We cut this CD the most live (way) possible, and we play like we play on the show,” she said. “After, we added another guitar or other guests. I invited other people from Comoros because we use certain rhythms, and it's really more powerful when you have more people there.”
She sings in several languages: Comoran, French, Arabic and English. But there's a universality in Nawal's music that transcends any potential linguistic barriers. “My music is mixed, but I am carrying a message: that we are all one, we are all connected, we are all beauty,” she said. “So let's make our life beauty and enjoy it and be happy! Maybe we can have more peace in the world.”
To learn more, visit www.nawali.com or www.myspace.com/nawalcomoros. 06/23/07 >> go there
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