Emel Mathlouthi

At First Church in Boston Get Directions

Enjoy a concert by firebrand Tunisian singer, songwriter and composer Emel Mathlouthi and her trio. This event is co-presented by the Consulate General of France in Boston as part of le Mois de la francophonie. Seating is general admission.

Tickets are available for purchase at First Church in Boston when doors open at 6:30 PM.

For members

$25

For non-members

$35

For students

$20

About this Event

Emel Mathlouthi and her trio will perform songs in French, English, and Arabic in an intimate, lyrical style, underscored by fierce rock beats and throbbing trip-hop and oriental influences. This concert is taking place on the occasion of the le Mois de la francophonie, which celebrates the richness of the wide-ranging cultures of the Francophone world.

About Emel Mathlouthi

Recently selected to represent Tunisia at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Emel Mathlouthi gained world attention when her 2007 song “Kelmti Horra (My Word is Free)” was adopted by the Arab Spring revolutionaries and became an anthem throughout the region, particularly among young people, earning her the nickname "the voice of Tunisian Revolution." Mathlouthi’s music tells the story of her Tunisia: the dark years as a young rebel and dissenter; the strife of being a female musician; her artistic and ideological struggle after her songs were banned from the radio and TV; and the dual love and suffering that came from longing for home while living in a free country.

Mathlouthi began her artistic career at the age of 8 in Ibn Sina, a suburb of Tunis. At age 25, oppressed by the Tunisian government because of her music, she moved to France to pursue her career as a singer, and then in 2014 she took another step in her career and moved to New York City. She has been said to evoke the urgency of American folk singer, Joan Baez, with the devotion of a chanter of ancient sacred music and the presence of a soul diva. She has given concerts in Saudi Arabia and all over the Middle East, as well as Europe and North America.

Watch Emel Mathlouthi's performance at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Concert

Our Sponsors

This concert is co-presented with the Consulate General of France in Boston. This event is made possible thanks in part to the Mosaïque Cultural Fund.

MosaiqueCharter1Web_Logo Rose-Noir ss Fund

Celebrating le Mois de la francophonie

La Francophonie is the vibrant community shared by the 274 million speakers of French across 5 continents. From Africa to the Americas, French is the 5th most spoken language in the world, and the second most learned language after English. With more than 60,000 words, it is a language of international communication used by 80 nations and governments. In the United States, it is estimated that up to 11 million people are Francophone, and 13 million Americans claim French, French-Canadian, or Acadian origin. The majority of Franco-Americans are concentrated in New England, as well as Louisiana. Clearly, French is a rich international language that connects people well beyond the borders of France!