Later she composed famous and popular Mauritanian songs like "Hailala" and "Koumba bay bay".
Dimi Mint Abba was born Loula Bint Siddaty Ould Abba in 1958 into a low-caste ("iggawin") family specializing in the griot tradition.
Dimi's parents were both musicians (her father had been asked to compose the Mauritanian national anthem), and she began playing at an early age. Her professional career began in 1976, when she sang on the radio and then competed, the following year, in the Umm Kulthum Contest in Tunis. Her winning song "Sawt Elfan" ("Art's Plume") has the refrain "Art's Plume is a balsam, a weapon and a guide enlightening the spirit of men", which can be interpreted to mean that artists play a more important role than warriors in society.
She died in June, 2011, in Casablanca, Morocco following a stage accident in Aioun ten days earlier when she was singing for Sahrawi public.
She died of a cerebral hemorrhage.Her death was described as "a national loss" by Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the President of Mauritania.
Although the music of her neighbours (Mali, Senegal, Algeria and Morocco) are becoming better known outside Africa, the modern & traditional music which is popular today in Mauritania remains comparatively little known. The dominant people in Mauritania (with a population of 3 million) are the Moors, descendants of Hassan Berber tribes who conquered the area. The desert republic is the crossroad of Africa and its musical repertoire has been formed over centuries of contact with a wide variety of African & Arab cultures (Berber, Arab, Sudanese, Bambara, Tuareg, Wolof, Peul) to produce in Moorish music a passionate, expressive singing style over complex rhythms.
Moorish music has in turn influenced the music of other countries; the impassioned singing and refined hand-clapping has been a powerful influence on Flamenco music and the late Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré points to Moorish music, and the music of Dimi Mint in particular, as an influence. The highly evolved structure of Moorish music (governed by specific musical theory), the instruments, its complex rhythms and expressive vocal techniques are each uniquely Mauritanian.
Moorish musicians are know as iggawin and their special knowledge of music is handed down through the generation, iggawin families acting as musical conservatories. Dimi & Khalifa are from the two respected centuries-old artistic families and they began to learn music at the age of eight or nine. Girls are taught by their mothers; first to dance & play the percussion instruments, the tbal & tambourine before learning musical theory and the ardin, a fourteen string relative of Kora. Dimi’s special musical gift was recognized early; at age of sixteen she was featured with her mother on national radio and the following year she was chosen to represent Mauritania at the Oum Kalsoum festival in Tunisia.
Boys learn musical theory and the tidnit, a lute similar to Wolof halam & Malian ngoni, from their fathers. The tidnit is at the top of the hierarchy of Moorish instruments & it is essential in guiding the music within its theoretical principals.
Khalifa’s father is one of Mauritania’s great tidnit players and Khalifa was aged twelve he decided to leave school (already literate in French, Arabic & Hassaniya) to sing his fathers songs. He is now a renowned composer & singer himself.
All iggawins, both men & women, sing but vocal techniques are not subject of such strict tuition but are learnt by listening to others. Improvisation in encouraged in all aspects of Moorish music but especially in singing and the Moorish vocal art has reached an extremely high level of skill and virtuosity.
The fundamental principles governing the Moorish musical system have remained unchanged since at least the 18th century and they are studied by all musicians from the beginning of their musical education. The system is complex and I have neither space nor am I qualified to fully discuss it here; but it is important to mention the three ‘way’ which are at the heart of the system.
Moorish music is divided into three ‘ways’ which roughly correspond to three ‘modes’: the ‘black way’ the ‘white way’ the ‘spotted way’. Once a musician has decided in which of these ‘ways’ he will begin a performance he must then respect a succession of five sub-modes, which must be completed before he can move on to other ‘way’. Each ‘way’ or sub-mode chosen, once completed, gives certain options to the players as to which mode he can use as he continues to play. Although only iggawin are fully conversant with these rules (and they have to reach a high level of understanding before they are considered ready or qualified to perform) most Mauritanians followers of music can detect a player’s error or a slip from his tradition. Despite the seeming rigidity of this system artists are encouraged to make creative innovations always looking to add something to the tradition without departing from it.
Over the last century, and especially since the 1940’s, there has been a massive change in Mauritanian life from a Bedouin way of existence towards an urban lifestyle which in Nouakchott has resulted in growing fusion of local musical styles. The role of musicians is also changing and iggawins are now looked upon as creative artists rather then past singers. Khalifa & Dimi are part of a group of musicians concentrated in Nouakchott who are introducing other instruments to play Mauritanian music. Amongst the instruments which have recently been adopted by iggawins are the electric guitar which plays the part of tidnit, electric bass, synthesizer and synth drums.
Khalifa & Dimi were involved in a project with instruments from throughout the Arab world such as oud and qnun to play Mauritanian music. Khalifa said: “This group must rehearse continuously because it is seeking out everything that is new in music and it seeks to be innovative and it seeks to have a coherent direction.”
As with other Muslim societies, poetry is a very important aspect of Mauritanian culture and most Moors can recite at length their favorite pieces. Poetry is considered as important as music and the two are inseparable. Classical Arab poetry in praise of Prophet and Arabic love poetry as well as Hassaniya poetry and the compositions passed down through the generations are being added to by younger poets who write of contemporary issues. Moorish Music From Mauritania also include songs in celebration of Mauritanian independence day and a song for Nelson Mandela.
Independence
Khalifa Ould Eide & Dimi Mint Abba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
مورتان تعصر وتقذم شوڤ مال
ڤوڮ راي خظر ونجم ولهلال
شوڤ شعب ل جاد اڤ لتحاد ڮبال
شوڤ لجيش من أولاد مورتان لبطال
شوڤ لحكوم كان ڤيها ماه عمال
منڮورين من عيان مورتان لبطال
These lyrics are from the song "Independence" by Khalifa Ould Eide and Dimi Mint Abba, celebrating the independence of Mauritania. The song expresses the joy and pride felt by the people of Mauritania upon gaining their independence from France. The first line, "Ya Mauritania alayka mubarak li-s'taqaal" means "Mauritania, congratulations on your independence." The song then goes on to describe the struggles and hardships that Mauritania has faced, but also highlights the country's resilience and strength.
The second line, "Mauritan tu'sir wa tuqdam shouv mal" means "Mauritania is squeezed and impoverished by evil." The song is acknowledging the difficulties Mauritania has faced in the past and continues to face, including poverty and corruption. However, the line "Vouq ray khaẓr wa najm wa l-hilal" which means "Under the green, the red, the star, and the crescent moon" is referring to the country's flag and symbolizes hope and unity.
The song then goes on to praise the people of Mauritania, honoring their courage and perseverance. "Shouf sha'b jad lil-tahaddi wa l-'ubal, shouf li-jaysh min awlad Murutān lil-batal" means "See the people renewed in their challenge and courage, see the army of Mauritania's sons come to battle." The last lines, "Shouf li-hukum kan fiha mah 'amal, mungarin min 'ayan Murutān lil-batal" means "See the government that was once without work, Mauritania's eyes are defeated in battle," are referring to the struggle of the country's leadership and the hope for change and progress.
Overall, "Independence" is a powerful and inspiring song, celebrating the hard-fought independence of Mauritania and calling for unity and progress.
Line by Line Meaning
يا موريتان عليك أمبارك لستقلال
Oh Mauritania, congratulations on your independence
مورتان تعصر وتقذم شوڤ مال
Mauritania was oppressed and exploited for wealth
ڤوڮ راي خظر ونجم ولهلال
Raise the flag of the crescent moon and star
شوڤ شعب ل جاد اڤ لتحاد ڮبال
Show the people the path to unity and cooperation
شوڤ لجيش من أولاد مورتان لبطال
Show respect for the brave soldiers of Mauritania
شوڤ لحكوم كان ڤيها ماه عمال
Show appreciation for the government that worked hard
منڮورين من عيان مورتان لبطال
The oppressed people of Mauritania are no longer victims
Writer(s): Dimi Abba, El Khalifa Eide
Contributed by Callie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.