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Named after a deeply culturally symbolic region of Western Sahara , this music and dance group is made up of eight Saharawi refugee artists. Their songs tell of the long forgotten and invisible struggle to regain Western Sahara and highlight their collective aspirations for independence and freedom. Formed out of a series of talent competitions in the refugee camps, Tiris features the legendary Shueta, known locally as the Arethra Franklin of the Sahara and the young rising star Mufeed, a 23 year old phenomenon with a stunning voice and a sizzling performance style. Accompanying the two main vocalists are the traditional tidinit played by Hamada Jatari (a four stringed instrument traditionally played by men) and the t’bal. Modern instruments played are the electric guitar by Mohamed Ahmed Zein, and keyboard by Beba Cheikh . The chorus of three singer-dancers (Embarka, Selma and Boubba) perform stunning dance sequences with and without the traditional t’bal.