Seffarine
Exclusive to the Woodend Winter Arts Festival on their world tour.
Born in the enchanting ancient city of Fez, Morocco, vocalist Lamiae Naki and her ensemble Seffarine bring to life the vibrant musical heritage of the Straits of Gibraltar. This historical crossroads, where African, Arabic, and European cultures converge, saw a golden age from the 9th to the 15th centuries when Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities coexisted harmoniously, producing a rich musical fusion that laid the groundwork for flamenco, North African, classical Arabic, and European Renaissance music.
In the 21st century, Seffarine continues this legacy with a fresh and innovative twist, reconnecting and celebrating these shared Mediterranean roots. Their performances are a breathtaking blend of show-stopping flamenco dance, Arabic oud ornamentation and gritty Gnawa basslines, all intertwined with Lamiae’s mesmerizing vocals, sung in her native Moroccan Arabic.
At a momentous first meeting at a coffee shop in Fez, Moroccan vocalist Lamiae Naki and multi-instrumentalist Nat Hulskamp composed their first song and decided to get married. Brought together by their deep knowledge of the music of both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar — Spanish flamenco and Moroccan Arabic music — they created Seffarine.
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