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Birth Of A Protest Song
- Emel Mathlouthi set a poem to music in 2007 and created the song Kenti Hora (My words are free).
- That song began as a personal act of resistance against Tunisia's authoritarian climate.
Paris Performance And Backlash
- Emel won second place in a contest and performed Kenti Hora on Bastille Day before 50,000 people in Paris.
- The performance was recorded and led to a Tunisian government ban and smear campaign against her.
Singing At The Tunisian Protests
- Emel returned to Tunisia and discovered people already knew Kenti Hora by heart at underground shows.
- She then sang it a cappella during a major January protest, which became a defining moment in the Jasmine Revolution.