Words by Keena Alwahaidi
Illustration by Dane Thibeault
Interview by Michael Zarathus-Cook
To describe Roufaida simply as a singer-songwriter would overlook the depth of her music, a storied and complex legacy of diasporic identity. The Dutch-Moroccan singer’s debut album Coming Up for Air encompasses that and more—a poetic exploration of her North African roots, while also challenging what social consciousness means at the intersection of heritage and self-expression. Few musical works capture such a rich sense of identity, tied to the textured, often rocky awareness of the past and belonging.
