Berber music

The Berber people is the indigenous and major ethnic group inhabiting North Africa (west of Egypt) and part of West Africa (north of Senegal). Berbers call themselves "imazighen". Those who lived in northwest Africa were called "Libyans" by the Greeks, "Africans", "Numidians" and "Moors" by the Romans and early Europeans, and dubbed "Berbers" by the modern Europeans and Arabs.

The Berber culture probably dates back more than 5,000 years and the Berbers were inhabitants of North Africa long before some Arab tribes arrived. The Berber language belongs to the Afro-Asiatic group linguistically and has many closely related dialects and accents. Their music is widely varying across the area they inhabit, but is best known for its place in Moroccan music, the popular Kabylian and Shawi music of Algeria and the widespread Tuareg music of Algeria, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.

Ancient Berber culture is stylistically diverse with music ranging from oboe and bagpipes to pentatonic music and all these combined with African rhythms and an important stock of oral literature.^[1] These ancient traditions of music have been kept alive by small bands of musicians travelling from village to village to entertain at weddings and other social events with their songs, tales, and poetry. The real core of Berber music remains within traditional, community contexts. Berber is related both to Semitic languages, among them Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic, and to ancient Egyptian, Coptic, and the Cushitic languages spoken in Ethiopia and Somalia. The Berber people are known as "Imazigen" (meaning "free people") in Berber.

Much of the most interesting Berber music is not pop at all, but rather village and urban folk music.^{[says who?]} Aesthetics and style aside, it is important to understand^{[says who?]} that the whole subject of Berber music and culture is inevitably colored by Berber people’s longstanding struggle to achieve basic language rights and identity recognition in modern North African societies.^[2]

Musical/Vocal Styles

Berber music is well-known for its use of folk oral traditions, as well as particular scales and rhythmic patterns, which include pentatonic music and African rhythms^[3]. All these tunes are combined together to form one of the main sources of entertainment in Berber social ceremonies like marriages, verses, tales and songs.

Berber vocal styles in Morocco consist of two main types. The first, called Ahwash, is exclusively village music, probably unchanged for centuries or longer. Ahwash texts emphasize the submission of the individual to the community. Typically, it consists of two large choruses engaging in call-and-response vocals, accompanied by instrumentalists and dancers. Since this music requires anywhere from 20 to 150 participants, it is not easily portable and so rarely heard in the cities. The second, called Raiss, is performed by smaller groups of professional musicians who blend dance, comedy, and sung poetry. Raiss songs tend to honor orthodox Islam, but with notable dashes of syncretist belief. In these songs, things like sacrifices and evil eyes are justified in terms of Islam. Instruments typically include the rebab, a one-stringed fiddle, the lotar lute, hand drums, and a bell. One notable feature of rwais (rais, singular) melodies is the way they leap up and down in large intervals^[4].

The region of Kabylia in Algeria has a very large Berber-speaking population. Vocalists are usually accompanied by a rhythm section, consisting of "tbel" (tambourine) and "bendir" (frame drum), and a melody section, consisting of a "ghayta" (bagpipe) and "ajuag" (flute).

The Berber music of the Tuareg region uses rhythms and vocal styles similar to the music of other Berber, Iberian, and Arab music, while West African call-and-response-style singing is also common. In contrast to many of the region's peoples, among the Tuareg, music is mostly the domain of women, especially the imzhad, a string instrument like a violin. Tuareg weddings feature unique styles of music, such as the vocal trilling of women and special dances (ilkan) of slaves marking the occasion.

Instrumentation

The Berber people are spread out over a large part of Africa, but seem to have a dense concentration within the North Western part of Africa. The people have a vast array of instruments, both melodic and percussive. The following instruments take part in the accompaniment in dance and song both secular, and sacred.

The Taghanimt is an end-blown reed flute. Used mostly to accompany songs rather than dance, the Taghanimt is said to have a rich, breathy texture.

The Mizwid is like a set of bag-pipes seen in the western world. The word literally means bag or food pouch. It has a higher pitch than western bag-pipes, but is said to have a wider pitch range.

The Zukrah of Tunisia has a large role in societal performances along with the Ghaytah of Morocco. In both countries, these instruments are combined with several percussive instruments to create large ensembles which may perform at public festivals or such occasions.

The Nafir is a long and natural horn similar to the western trumpet. This instrument is used mostly as a signaling instrument to send out messages to large masses. Although it has some value in performances, it serves mainly this purpose.

The Moroccan Ginbri is a stringed instrument without frets but rather a long neck. The box of the instrument is covered in skin, and is used in several varying occasions. Most ensembles have at least one Ginbri, although it is not always limited to one. In addition to the Ginrbri, is the Rabab, a long necked-fiddle with a large box which is covered in skin. This instrument has only one string made normally by horse hair. It is commonly used alongside the Ginbri, as the voice of the group.

In percussion, the Tabl is a cylindrical double-sided drum. Although it has similar use and spelling to the Tabla of India, there is no direct correlation found between the two. The Qas'ah is a large shallow kettledrum found mostly in Tunisia. Similar to the Qas'ah is the Naqqarah, two ceramic kettledrums played simultaneously by both hands.

In Moroccan Berber music, a series of snare frame-drums of Bandirs may be played simultaneously. These provide the main percussive rhythm for Berber music as the above mentioned drums are more artistic than Bandirs.

Last, but not least, is the Qaraqib. This is a metal clacker which has resemblance of a castanets. There is one in each hand and may be used to mark rhythm or may also have its own type of melody.^[5]

Algeria

Main article: music of Algeria

The region of Kabylia in Algeria has a very large Berber population. Traditional Kabylian music consists of vocalists accompanied by a rhythm section, consisting of t'bel (tambourine) and bendir (frame drum), and a melody section, consisting of a ghaita (bagpipe) and ajouag (flute).

Kabylian music has been famous in France since the 1930s, when it was played at cafés. As it evolved, Western string instruments and Arab musical conventions, like large backing orchestras, were added. After the independence of Algeria and Kabylian culture was oppressed^{[citation needed]}, many musicians began to adopt politicized lyrics. The three most popular musicians of this era were Ferhat Mehenni, Lounis Ait Menguellet and Idir, whose "A Vava Inouva" (1973) brought international attention for Kabylian music and laid the groundwork for the breakthrough of raï.

By the time raï, a style of Algerian popular music, became popular in France and elsewhere in Europe, Kabylian artists were also moving towards popular music conventions. Hassen Zermani's all-electric Takfarinas and Abdelli's work with Peter Gabriel's Real World helped bring Kabylian music to new audiences, while the murder of Matoub Lounes inspired many Kabylians to rally around their popular musicians.

Modern singers include Djur Djura and many chawi singers and groups as: Houria Aichi, Les Berberes, Amirouch, Massinissa, Amadiaz, Numidas, Mihoub, Massilia, Merkunda, Thiguyer, Salim Souhali (Thaziri), Dihya, Messaoud Nedjahi and others.

Morocco

Main article: Music of Morocco

Berbers are a solid majority of Morocco's population, but are nevertheless politically marginalized^{[citation needed]}. Their most famous musical output is likely Ammouri M'barek Singer and Song writer (Considered to be, the john lennon- Beatles in the Berber World, singing since the early 1960s and now; Nekk dik a nmun (1978) Cd Album). Usman (Ousmane) - Music Band 1960s and 1970s . Najat Aatabou, a singer whose debut cassette, "J'en ai Marre", sold an unprecedented half a million copies in Morocco. Internationally, the Master Musicians of Jajouka are also well known, as a result of their collaboration with Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones and William S. Burroughs. Another recording group from Jajouka is Master Musicians of Joujouka, formerly managed by the late painter Mohamed Hamri. In 2009 the first R'n'B songs in a Berberian language were released by Ahmed Soultan in his second album Code.

• Mohammad Albansir'Damseri' Singer, Composer & Poet
• Ammouri Mbarek Singer, Songwriter
• Fatima Tabaamrant - singer, songwriter, Poet
• Lhaj Belaid - singer, songwriter, poet
• Hamed Amentague singer, Poet from Morocco
• Usman (Ousmane) - Music Band 1960s and 1970s (They are considered to be like, the beatles in the Berber World. Ammouri Mbarek, Said Bijaaden, Tarik El-maarufi, Belaid el-Akkaf, Lyazid Qorfi, Said Butrufin)
• Ali Chouhad - Singer, songwriter, Writer
• Hindi Zahra - Singer
• Fatima Tihihit singer from Morocco
• Najat Aatabou - singer
• Fatima Tachtoukt - singer
• Omar Boutmazought - singer
• Yuba - singer
• Cherifa - singer
• Mohamed Rouicha - singer
• Saïda Titrit - singer
• Mimoun El Walid - singer
• Itran - singer
• Khalid Izri - singer
• Rkya Talbensirt- singer
• Omar Ait Ulahyan
• Amaray
• El Houcine El Baz
• Omar Wahrouch
• Mohamed Demciri
• Houicne AlMarrakchi
• Elarbi Ihihi
• Hadj Aarab Atiqui
• Khalid Ayour
• Al Assala
• Hadat Ouaaki
• Miouda
• Houssa Mansouri
• El Haddioui
• Abouzane Lahcen
• Ahouzer
• Ochtaine Lahcen
• Izenzarn Band
• Archach Band
• Laryach Band
• Oudaden Band
• Iaacheken Band
• Inzaf L`Familia
• [[Saghru Band]]

Tuareg

Main articles: Music of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso

The Tuareg who live in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have produced internationally renowned bands in Tartit and Tinariwen. Their traditional music uses rhythms and vocal styles similar to the music of other Berbers and Arab music, while West African call-and-response-style singing is also common. In contrast to many of the region's peoples, among the Tuareg, music is mostly the domain of women, especially the imzhad, a string instrument like a violin.

Berber Dance

Ethnic dance is becoming increasingly uncommon in Morocco. When it was active, it could be seen at the Marrakesh Folk Festival.

Within the past 4 years, Morocco has seen a lot of change. Most of that change has come with the use of the satellite receiver. It has been added to almost every household in Morocco. Out of 300 channels, 30 of them are religious. Because of these religious channels, women are no longer permitted to dance in public. Islamists consider this to be dishonorable to herself and her family, thus imposing fundamentalist Arab Muslim beliefs on the Berber peoples.^[6]

Some parts of North Africa, near Eastern, still have some Berber Dance traditions.

Guedra is the form of Berber Dance in Tuareg. Guedra is what they call the ritualistic dance only when the woman is doing the dance on her knees. If she stands up at all during the performance, it's called T'bal. The reason for the different names, even though dances are done very similar is unknown. In this culture, Guedra is not just a dance, but a ritual that everybody can participate in. It is mostly done by women, but sometimes men and children also participate. Guedra is performed to create good energy, peace and spiritual, not carnal, love.

Notes

1. ^ http://www.al-bab.com/arab/background/berber.htm
2. ^ http://www.north-of-africa.com/article.php3?id_article=107
3. ^ http://www.alwanforthearts.org/event/282
4. ^ http://nf4hr2ve4v.cs.serialssolutions.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/results?SS_LibHash=NF4HR2VE4V&dbIDList=&searchType=basic&action=start&catGroupList=default&searchBy=Category&term=berber+music&field=keyword&catID=28512
5. ^ http://www.classicalarabicmusic.com/instruments.htm
6. ^ Bauwens, Daan (2009-08-13). "Berber Dance is Over". http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=48063. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 

See also

• Islamic music
• Arabic music

External links

• Berber Music
• Public Radio's Afropop Worldwide on Berber Music
• Master Musicians of Joujouka
• Fabchannel.com - Watch a great video of a Najat Aatabou concert
• background info on berber