L’Malouma Said was born a slave in Boutilmitt, Mauritania. She was a leader in the El Hor movement (Movement for the liberation of Haratines) in Mauritania. She helped to start the Mauritanian anti-slavery organization S.O.S. Esclaves. She is married to Boubacar Messaoud, the current leader of S.O.S. Esclaves.