2007年VOA标准英语-Mauritanian Singer Tackles Social Problems in L

By Phuong Tran
Nouakchott, Mauritania
07 August 2007

Malouma, one of Mauritania's most famous "griot" traditional singers, was elected to the national Senate this year as an opposition¹ member. She is bringing her fight against social injustice² from the stage to the Senate. The singing senator goes from rapid-fire Arabic mornings in Mauritania's Senate, straight into evening band rehearsals⁴. Reporter Phuong Tran visited with her in Nouakchott, Mauritania and brings us this report.

Malouma performs with band at French embassy in Nouakchott, Mauratania

She is known simply by her performance name Malouma.

She says ever since she was young, she was always tempted⁵ to break rules.

She turned rebellion into a career. Her Arabic-language songs speak out against long-held social customs in Mauritania, earning her the titles of "Saharan Blues⁶ Singer" and "Rebel Diva".

Last year, she decided⁷ she also wanted to add senator to her list of names.

Malouma says she entered the campaign because she wanted to find a way to defend her ideas and to protect women's rights.

Malouma is elected to Mauritanian Senate, Jan 2007

She won with a majority this past January, becoming one of six women and 11 opposition party members in a legislature of 56.

She says she can now deliver her message personally to the men in power.

In the mornings, Malouma drives herself downtown to the senate.

She enters a closed-door meeting with all men, dressed in traditional white robes with ornate designs. She wears a green and white veil.

They are discussing ways to address an accusation⁸ in local media that government officials bought a fleet of fancy new cars.

When the senate is in session, Malouma says she cannot perform as much.

Malouma rehearses at home, Nouakchott in Mauritania

But Malouma the singer has not retired⁹.

After her meeting ends, she rushes to a rehearsal³ with her band. They are practicing for a music festival in Switzerland.

The divorced mother of four continues to sing about how divorced women should not hide or be ashamed. Her song lyrics¹⁰ still denounce hypocrisy¹¹, caste divisions and discrimination.

She says she is everything-African, Arab, woman and artist.

And now, also, senator.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

3 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

4 rehearsals   

n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复

参考例句：

• The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
• She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

6 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

9 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

10 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

11 hypocrisy   

n.伪善，虚伪

参考例句：

• He railed against hypocrisy and greed.他痛斥伪善和贪婪的行为。
• He accused newspapers of hypocrisy in their treatment of the story.他指责了报纸在报道该新闻时的虚伪。