Years ago she was pouring your drink at the BIRD bar. Now she’s serving a fearless, boundary-pushing sound. Roufaida, a BIRDIE, now one of the most exciting names in alternative pop – returns to where it all began: BIRD Rotterdam.
Roufaida moves effortlessly between poetry and activism, between deep-rooted tradition and a razor-sharp future. Her North African heritage, Arab poetry and life between different worlds all flow into alternative pop that refuses to fit any box.
Expect unconventional melodies, layered lyrics and a performance that looks you straight in the eye. Think the boldness of Rosalía, the imagination of Björk and the serenity of Arooj Aftab, all filtered through a distinct Dutch-Moroccan lens.
With her Roufaida EP she lit up 2023. Tracks like Don’t Bend, driven by the hypnotic sound of the Moroccan guembri, and Kalimat, inspired by poet Nizar Qabbani, took her to stages across the Benelux, Germany and Morocco. Festivals like Down The Rabbit Hole, Into The Great Wide Open and ESNS/Noorderslag followed, as well as support shows for Xavier Rudd, Balthazar, Melody Gardot and Eefje de Visser.
The press caught on quickly: De Volkskrant called her “a true discovery”, NRC praised her unique blend of North African influences and alternative pop, and Humo crowned Don’t Bend “the coolest groove of the year”. Two Edison nominations topped it off.
And now, on 02 April 2026, she’s live at BIRD Rotterdam. Home. Roufaida returns to the nest as an artist who dissolves borders and connects worlds. An intimate, intense show for everyone who craves forward-thinking alternative pop, North African influences and powerful stories in the heart of Rotterdam.
This night is a collaboration between BIRD, Rotterdam and Motel Mozaïque (MoMo).
You may also like the following events from BIRD:
Also check out other
Arts events in Rotterdam,
Literary Art events in Rotterdam,
Festivals in Rotterdam.
