Siti Muharam
Concert
Siti Muharam’s timbre upholds the cherished musical legacy of her great-grandmother, the esteemed taarab virtuoso, Siti Binti Saad. Saad, celebrated as an icon in an era dominated by male artists within the genre, etched her name in history as the first female artist from East Africa to venture into commercial recordings in 1920. Nearly a century later, her great-granddaughter remains steadfast in her commitment to honouring and preserving this legacy.
Muharam approaches her artistry with unwavering passion, infusing renewed vitality into the genre. Through her interpretations, she channels the innovative spirit and unwavering dedication that characterized her great-grandmother’s craft. On her album Siti of Unguja (2023), Muharam masterfully references Saad’s era, integrating the percussive kidumbak style and stripping away taarab’s formal layering to evoke the eclectic essence of Zanzibar’s Swahili street culture, which deeply influenced Saad.
This distinctive and versatile genre, characterized by its intricate fusion of Swahili poetry, Qur’anic verses, African polyrhythms, and an array of Indian and European influences, stands as a testament to its enduring relevance and evolution. Taarab music reveals rhythmic complexities and melodic depths fit for an immersive journey into deep and beautiful atmospheric healing.
Aziza Brahim
Concert
Aziza Brahim’s life has been heavily shaped by the displacement and political oppression that ensued after Morocco’s 1975 invasion of Western Sahara. Brahim sought refuge in Cuba as a young teenager, where she discovered her passion for songwriting, later moving to Barcelona, Spain, where she is based today.
Her music is a powerful and nuanced blend of various musical cultures, incorporating elements from West Africa, Iberian, Mediterranean, and Afro-Cuban traditions. Drawing from her Sahrawi heritage, she often infuses her compositions with the hypnotic sounds of haul, serving as a means of cultural expression and identity affirmation. As a songwriter, singer, and instrumentalist, Brahim is a prominent and articulate spokesperson for the Sahrawi people and their ongoing struggle for recognition and justice.
Mawja (2023), her fifth studio album, resonates deeply with her roots. ‘Mawja was the word my grandparents said when they tuned on the old portable radio we had in the house’; says Brahim. In her work, the journey through origins, memories, displacement, injustices, and resistance are all elements that, through poetry and music, are catalysed in a healing journey alongside activism.
Wahid Paradis
DJ Set
Wahid Paradis showcases musical brilliance with his extensive collection of vinyl gems, renowned taste, and impeccable DJing skills. He curates immersive atmospheres that captivate listeners from start to finish, effortlessly connecting the opulence of a golden age of Arab music with the synths of Italo disco, funk, and beyond. Individuals are encouraged to listen and feel, his sets often generating an energy that ignites impromptu dance gatherings.
Última actualización
21 days ago