Ahead of their show in Montpellier, France, today at Festival Arabesques – widely considered to be the premiere festival for Arab culture in Europe – Tunisian duo Yuma spoke to The National about their home country, music, politics and how they want their audience to feel when listening to their music.
Ramy Zoghlami and Sabrine Jenhani, both based in France, make melodic songs – played on acoustic guitar and drums – with a melancholic, haunting, dark feel, sung in deep, breathy vocals in Tunisian dialect Derja, although French rather than Arabic is their first language.
While they consider themselves a world-music act, their sound is very much indie-alternative, with a slight undertone of the Arab world and classical influences. Poetry is also a vital element of their craft and an influence that is clearly reflected in their lyrics. They say that they want their listeners to "feel free" when hearing their songs.
Since their start as a band in December 2015, they have released two albums: their debut, Chura, in 2016, and Ghbar Njoum (which translates to "Dust Stars"), released in March. Throughout those three years, Yuma have also toured globally in places such as Tunisia, Morocco, France and the UK.
In spite of the turmoil and political upheaval Tunisia has been through in the past few years, Zoghlami explains that the country's music scene is currently in rude health.
"It is in a state of effervescence," he says. "Young musicians are exploring their talents and freely expressing their state of mind through and thanks to music. I personally think that the music scene in Tunisia is starting to reach its peak and I am not complaining about it – on the contrary, I feel lucky to be part of it.
"Things have changed [in Tunisia], I can assure you that, for better or for worse. We, as Tunisians, are still discovering the meaning of freedom and exploring its different forms.
"The political scene in Tunisia took a more 'clear' path, let's say, after the revolution, but it did not help the cultural scene because it is still poor and not being really taken care of."
Jenhani adds: "The Arab Spring in Tunisia was the beginning of a new era, especially for artists. Since 2011, Tunisia has known an incredible boom of creativity starting with fine arts, theatre, music, cinema.
“All artists from all disciplines have been saying [out] loud what people where saying low for 23 years of [ousted president] Ben Ali.” she says. “It is still up until now – the new voice of freedom is the voice of the youth.”
Zoghlami and Jenhani differ in opinion about the intended effects of their music. Zoghlami is more on the poetic side, whereas Jenhani leans more towards nostalgia and emotion.
"It is not an option, actually. Zoghlami says. "It is my mother language, and I feel like our dialect is rhythmic and poetic. To be honest, I don't consider Arabic my mother tongue and I strongly believe that what I write and sing is somehow anthropological and participates in archiving our heritage in a way."
Jenhani adds: "It isn't shameful to feel nostalgia over someone or a place. I want them to feel safe, like the way they feel when they are with close friends. I want them to feel fully every emotion that has emerged, because it's true if it's there, and it's right to listen to our inner voices and let peace take place instead of ignoring them and live a lifetime tormented."
So what is the overall message that Yuma wish to convey to the world?
"I believe that the cause of all what is happening in the world, war, crisis, individualism and hypocrisy is hatred." Jenhani says. "It's all emerging from a sad fact, [which is] the lack of love and the fear of being rejected. The message I will always tell is that we all born in this world to be loved and to love and that is the message I want to share with the world."
Yuma perform on Thursday at the Festival Arabesques in Montpellier, France
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Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, singers use music to make their voices heard
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
