Tunisian singer and songwriter Emel Mathlouthi brought together 53 artists from 22 countries to perform in her quarantine release of 2007s 'Kelmti Horra' (My Word Is Free), which garnered her big fame.

Among the contributing artists are Tunisian actors Dhafer L'Abidine, Hend Sabry, Dorra and Ghalia Benali, as well as Egyptian singer Omar Kamal, Syrian singer Faia Younan and Lebanon’s Tania Saleh and Mashrou' Leila.

"Since the day I wrote the music in my small studio in Tunis back in 2007, it has always been my dream to sing it together with artists and people from all over the world, like a unifying powerful protest chant," said Mathlouthi, who sang the same song at the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

Making the best use of her quarantine time in Tunisia, Emel contacted artists from all over the world who she described as "people that are making a change around them and beyond, people that I have been inspired by, that I respect and appreciate."

"I started thinking that it was time to deliver the strongest message: of unity, human connection and empathy, needed more than ever," she added.

"So grateful that everyone responded very quickly and very positively, all loving the idea of singing Kelmti Horra. Some songs are just bigger than us and can travel beyond time, cultural differences and geography. I feel super hopeful and proud to present you today with the biggest and most beautiful thing I have ever worked on. All united for freedom!"

Sound editor Ahmed Jabkhanji was in charge of mixing and mastering, while the video editing and consulting was done by Taher Gorgi.

 

Produced by Little Human Records, the lyrics by Amine El Ghozzi and Emel Mathlouthi are brought to life by the following artists:

Luce Goffi: Musician, France (Violin)

Anne Berry: Musician, France (Viola)

Widad Abdessemed: Musician, France (Violin)

Sacha Patel: Musician, France (Horn)

François Poitou: Musician, France (Bass)

Pierre Makarenko: Musician, France (Oboe)

Dora Vlad: Musician, France (Harp)

Linda Patel: Musician, France (Flute)

Juliette Renard: Musician, France (Flute)

Charlotte Patel: Musician, France (Cello)

Issa Hassan: Musician, Kurd/Lebanon/ France (Bouzouk)

Vivian Angelloz: Musician, France (Bassoon)

Grégoire Henry: Musician, France (Trumpet)

Ahmad Joudeh: Dancer, Syria

Omar Kamal: Singer Palestine

Emel Mathlouthi: Singer, Tunisia

Abir Nasraoui: Singer, Tunisia

Faia Younan: Singer, Syria

Sharaf Al Gaedi: Musician Yemen

Jahida Wehbe: Singer, Lebanon

Code Rouge: Rapper/Musician, Morocco/Belgium

Razia Said: Singer, Madagascar

Dorra Zarrouk: Actress, Tunisia

Flavia Coelho: Singer, Brazil

Hamed Sinno: Singer, Lebanon

Bachar Zarkan: Singer, Syria

Leslie Williams: Dancer, New York

Harvey Wirht: Musician, Suriname

Pamela Elkik: Actress, Lebanon

Yazan Al Rousan Musician Jordan

El Seed: Visual Artist Tunisia

Ghalia Benali: Singer, Tunisia

Dhafer Labidine: Actor, Tunisia

Said Helaf: Singer, Djibouti

Ayo: Singer, Germany/ Nigeria

Hana Malhas: Singer, Jordan

Tania Saleh: Singer, Lebanon

Eliasse: Singer, Comoros

Nour Ben Chikh Larbi: Singer, Tunisia

Ahmed Zitouni: Actor, Algeria

Atef Malhas: Musician, Jordan

Nour Harkati: Singer, Tunisia

Rasha Nahas Singer Palestine

Nadin Al Khalidi Singer Iraq/Egypt/Sweden

Sussan Deyhim: Singer, Iran

Hend Sabry: Actress, Tunisia

Jowan Safadi: Musician, Palestine

Amine El Ghozzi: Poet, Writer, Tunisia

Firas Abou Fakher: Musician, Lebanon

Houda Ajili: Visual Artist, Tunisia

Maram Ben Aziza: Actress, Tunisia

Nawal: Singer, Comoros

Justin Salisbury: Musician, New York

Cheick Tidiane Seck: Musician, Mali

Daby Touré: Singer, Mauritania

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