Nathalie Natiembé

Nathalie Natiembé

Nathalie Natiembé is a singer from Réunion, France, known for performing maloya. She begins performing in 1997, after deciding to follow a family path connected to music on Réunion. Her work combines Creole poetry with maloya, and her performances are noted for their energetic style.

Career and music

She appears as a stage artist in her forties when she starts performing publicly in 1997. Her music gains attention in Réunion, across the Indian Ocean region, in Southern Africa, and then more widely. She is associated with an adventurous and colourful approach to maloya.

Albums and collaborators

Her second album, Sanker, follows Margoz and is recorded with several musicians from the Indian Ocean area. These include Mauritian musician Lélou Menwar and Malagasy accordionist Régis Gizavo. Percussion on the album and in live performance features Sami Pageaux, the son of Danyel Waro, and Jean Amemoutou, the grandson of singer Maxime Laope.

Performance style

Her live shows are central to her reputation, with performances described as compelling and distinctive. The same musicians who appear on Sanker also perform with her on stage, linking her recordings and concerts closely to the contemporary maloya scene.