July 2 will be a date to remember for fans of Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi, as the 43-year-old artist is set to perform in her home country for the first time in nearly four years. Expected to take the stage at the 49th edition of the Dougga International Festival—which kicked off on June 28 against the backdrop of ancient Roman ruins— Mathlouthi will reportedly perform tracks from her most recent album, Mra, which she has yet to present live to her audience at home.
Entirely produced, written, and composed by women, Mathlouthi’s most recent sonic offering, released a year ago almost day for day, is the first of its kind to stem from the Arab world; a landmark project redefining what it means to be a woman artist today in a male-dominated industry. Through 12 tracks and five features— including Malian femcee Ami Yerewolo, French pop singer Camelia Jordan, and Nigerian rapper Eva Alordiah, amongs others— her fifth studio album unfolds as a plea for unity and the reclamation of space by women whose voices have too often been pushed to the side if not completely silenced.
From what we know, this will be the first time since her performance at the 2022 Dream City Festival that the singer will reconnect with her Tunisian audience in a live setting. According to a recent interview given to Billboard Arabia, the North African singer will follow the Dougga concert with a mini-world tour, making stops in Morocco, France, and Germany, as well as the United States.
Tickets for her hotly-anticipated performance are already available, priced at 43 TND (approximately $15), and can be purchased via this link. Transportation from Tunis to Dougga is also available through the same platform.