Roufaida

Boundary-pushing, poetic, and activist – Roufaida is an artist whose work reflects her evolving perspective and commitment to exploring new ideas. Drawing from her North-African heritage, she combines unconventional melodies with metaphorical songwriting shaped by Arabic poetry and the realities of today’s world. Influenced by innovative artists like Rosalía, Björk, and Arooj Aftab, Dutch-Moroccan Roufaida honors multiple traditions while creatively expanding upon them. Roufaida’s breakthrough came with the release of the Roufaida EP in 2023, featuring standout tracks like Don’t Bend, showcasing the deep tones of the Moroccan guembri, and Kalimat, inspired by a poem by Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani. The EP gained international airplay and brought her to stages across the Benelux, Germany, and Morocco, with performances at festivals such as Down The Rabbit Hole, Into The Great Wide Open, and Noorderslag. She has shared the stage with artists like Xavier Rudd, Balthazar, Melody Gardot, and Eefje de Visser. Praised for its distinctive sound, the EP earned two nominations for the prestigious Edison Awards. Critics have hailed Roufaida as “a true discovery” (De Volkskrant), applauded her fusion of North-African influences with alternative pop (NRC), and recognized "Don’t Bend" as “the coolest groove of the year” (Humo).