Laura Elkeslassy is a New York-based French-Moroccan Jewish singer, actor, and cross-cultural artist. Her work focuses on excavating, reimagining, and disseminating the Judeo-Arab musical heritage of the Maghreb (North Africa).
Elkeslassy is internationally renowned for her multimedia project Ya Ghorbati (My Exile/My Nostalgia). This project is a poignant tribute to the shared Judeo-Arab musical traditions of the 20th-century Maghreb. By performing classic songs that were once popular among both Muslims and Jews, she breaks through contemporary identity barriers across the Mediterranean. Her artistic achievement lies not only in her exquisite vocal skill but also in her “archaeology of memory” through music, reminding the world of the inseparable symbiotic relationship that once existed between Jewish and Arab cultures.
Elkeslassy expresses support for Palestine through a “decolonial” cultural lens. She opposes pitting Jewish identity against Arab identity, viewing such opposition as a product of modern geopolitics and colonial logic. In her performances and public expressions, she emphasizes cultural resonance and emotional connection with the Palestinian people. She once stated: “When I sing these old songs, I hear the voice of Palestinians within them. We share the melodies of this land; to acknowledge Palestinian dignity is to acknowledge the forgotten Arab roots within our own identity.” She is committed to advocating for an inclusive vision of justice through transnational artistic collaboration.