North African music background

The fact that practically no one in the music business wanted to promote Berber music in the Arab dominated radio waves in North Africa back in the sixties and seventies is one of the major factors that lead us to say that Berber music was unheard of except in one radio station in Algeria called ( RTA chaine 2) since 1962 the independence.

Although this station was run by Berber staff in many ways , they had to cater to the elite promoters that had the final say in what works and not. Most of the pioneers of Berber music then had to put out some compromising work in Arabic in order to satisfy the status quo of the promoters and the heads of the stations. Among these talents are Nora, Kamal Hamadi , Akli Yahyaten and so fourth who produced in France some incredible work . One of Akli’s old song named (Yal Menfi : which he was never given a credit to ) was recently put out by Rachid Taha in one of his last cd’s.Note also that one of the big names in chaabi is a Berber from Algiers : El Anka

By the time Idir, Allam, Ferhat,Cherif Kheddam , Djurdjura ,A Menguellet dominated the North African air waves, because of their non traditional work in France, Berber music was making some big noises and the game plan inside the so called “Editeurs” Distributors circles began to change.Of course the influence of the French companies was obvious . That’s why the records came out misrepresented the way they were. They were not French.

Of course back then “Rachid and Fethi” were laying the field for what is now Rai music to come out of the cabarets and the weddings in Morocco and Oran and launch it worldwide (early Rimitti etc..) ( they made what Rai music is now from their home designed 16 tracks and never got the credit they deserve for making Khaled,Mami,Fadela,Zahouania and the rest.

One thing to mention that is important is that everyone was fighting for recognition because no one had control of what the music in general was going to go. The Berbers were fighting for their rights as people and the music was playing a major role.

The North African Radio stations were controlled by government and had to play Arabic music all the times including Chaabi-Oum Kalthoum and Arabic Pop.The Berbers in the remote places still played the weddings songs and celebrations with their folk music that was very percussive .In Morocco where the amazing bands of the Rwais still played in the Festivals and the villages some original music with different styles of chantings etc. they have earned national recognition because of their broad collaborations with the locals and the authorities.

Now that all is changed and the field is unpredictable, we are witnessing a quite numbers of talent coming out of the land of North Africa. One major factor is the available technology and the back up in Europe that is dominating the fast moving scene especially in France. Also Berber Music is being rediscovered by the World audiences because of it’s involvement in concert and radios all over the world. The only thing that remains for it to get more acceptance is to gather all of it’s new and used talents to unite and flourish cohesively so it can be taken seriously and have an impact worldwide.

The many styles of Berber music that is played in North Africa, Europe and in America speaks for itself if one can put aside all the brainwashing that has been circulating for a while .If you dig deeper in the internet and listen to all the available Berber stuff you will realize quickly that all these different styles have been there .The only difference now is that they all have been exposed with no restrictions. More to come on this subject.

This is what sites like Adrum is hoping to do now and in the future : to unite, promote, share and enjoy all the different talents coming out of N.Africa and abroad for one common goal : Give Berber music a place finally deserved in the world arena.