Emel Mathlouthi Biography: Husband, Age, Children, Net Worth, Albums, Career, Awards

Emel Mathlouthi is a Tunisian-American singer-songwriter, composer, producer and performer whose voice became associated with social change in the North African and Arab world.

She first drew wide attention through her protest song “Kelmti Horra” (“My Word Is Free”), which gained resonance during the Tunisian revolution and the wider Arab Spring.

Profile

• Full name: Emel Mathlouthi
• Date of birth: January 11, 1982
• Age: 43 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Tunis, Tunisia
• Nationality: Tunisian / American
• Profession: Singer-songwriter, composer, producer, performer
• Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
• Weight: 57 kg (125 lbs)
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Black
• Parents: N/A
• Siblings: One sister
• Spouse: Married to a French writer and visual artist
• Children: One daughter, born in 2017
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Muslim
• Ethnicity: Arab / North African (Tunisian)
• Net worth: $2–3 million

Early Life and Education

Emel Mathlouthi (43 years old) was born on January 11, 1982, in Tunis, Tunisia, and grew up in El Menzah, a suburb of the capital.

She began performing at eight years old and wrote her first song at ten.

Deeply influenced by both Arabic folk traditions and Western rock, she later explored heavier genres such as metal before blending these with poetic Arabic lyrics.

At university in Tunis (Université de Tunis), she studied visual arts while continuing her passion for music.

She formed a metal band at 19 and later transitioned to socially conscious songwriting inspired by Joan Baez.

After facing censorship from the Tunisian government, Emel moved to Paris in 2008 to pursue creative freedom.

She later lived in New York, where she refined her global sound.

Her informal musical education included training in classical Arabic scales and modern electronic production techniques.

Personal Life

Emel Mathlouthi maintains a private personal life. She is married to a French writer and artist with whom she shares a daughter born in 2017.

The family splits time between New York, Paris, and Tunis.

Career

Emel rose to international prominence when her protest song “Kelmti Horra” (“My Word Is Free”) became an anthem of the Tunisian Revolution and the Arab Spring in 2011.

The song was banned in Tunisia but went viral online, symbolizing resistance to dictatorship.

Her debut album, Kelmti Horra (2012), was released by World Village and received global acclaim for blending Arabic poetry, electronic textures, and revolutionary spirit.

Her follow-up, Ensen (2017), recorded in Iceland, New York, and Tunisia, was praised by Pitchfork and The Guardian for its cinematic and emotional production.

A remix album, Ensenity (2018), followed, highlighting her electronic collaborations.

In 2019, she released Everywhere We Looked Was Burning, her first album entirely in English, co-produced with Steve Moore, merging ambient soundscapes with poetic reflections on humanity and exile.

Her 2020 quarantine project, The Tunis Diaries, was recorded solo in her childhood home in Tunis, offering raw acoustic performances that resonated globally.

In 2024, she released MRA, a groundbreaking album created entirely by women.

It featured empowering songs like “NAR” and “Souty (My Voice),” celebrating female resilience and Arab identity.

She has performed in over 40 countries and collaborated with artists such as Tricky, Vitalic, Valgeir Sigurðsson, and Steve Moore.

Her performances often fuse music, light art, and political expression.

Awards and Recognitions

• Finalist, Prix RMC Moyen-Orient Musique (2006)
• Performer, Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony (Oslo, 2015)
• Featured in BBC’s 100 Women list (2018)
• Honored at Arab Women in Music Festival, 2021

Net Worth

Emel Mathlouthi’s estimated net worth is $2–3 million USD.

Her income derives mainly from international touring, digital streaming royalties, record production, soundtrack contributions, and live performances.

Social Media

• Instagram: @emelmathlouthi
• Twitter/X: @emelmathlouthi
• YouTube: Emel Mathlouthi

Discography

• Kelmti Horra (2012)
• Ensen (2017)
• Ensenity (2018)
• Everywhere We Looked Was Burning (2019)
• The Tunis Diaries (2020)
• MRA (2024)