Rasha (born 1971, Omdurman, Sudan) as Rasha Sheikh Al Deen is a Sudanese musical artist and actress, known both for her music as well as for her appearance in the movies The Sheik and I (2012) and Lush (1999).[1][2]

Biography

Rasha's singing in her native Sudanese Arabic combines the musical traditions of Sudan and South Sudan. In the arrangements of her songs, she has also embraced, among other musical styles, Afro-pop, flamenco or reggae. In 1991, she moved to Spain, and released her debut album, Sudaniyat, in 1997.[3] In 2008, her second album, Let me be, including songs in Spanish or English, was released.[4] That same year, one of her songs was featured in the compilation La Sal de la Vida (The Salt of the Earth) with María Salgado, Uxía, and Xesús Pimentel.[5]

In 2017, Rasha was a performing artist at The Mayor of London's Eid Festival on Trafalgar Square. That same year, she was a guest at Shubbak, an annual event at the British Library for Arab-speaking artists that celebrates contemporary Arab culture.[6][7]

Rasha comes from a large family, which includes intellectuals, artists, and musicians. Her brother Wafir, for example, played with the Spanish world music band Radio Tarifa.[1][8]

Rasha's song "Ojos de gacela" (Eyes of Gazelle) was nominated as Best Original Song at the 2003 Spanish Goya Awards.[9]

References