AⵣMⵣ - Ahwach Bnat Louz and Raskas by Tekchbila (Les concerts d'Alain Weber)

This second chapter in the Tekchbila adventure celebratesAhwach, a traditional dance deeply rooted in Amazigh heritage. Ahwach Bnat Louz, a women's troupe from Tafraout, has been a pioneer in this field for over 20 years, taking part in numerous national and international festivals. Raskas, a post-rock/electronica duo from Casablanca, embodies the Moroccan electronic scene with bold compositions. Their music captures fleeting moments and transcends them into deep emotions. Together, Ahwach Bnat Louz and Raskas explore new soundscapes, combining ancestral traditions and contemporary creations. Their performance AⵣMⵣ offers an immersive musical experience, blending poetry, Amazigh slam, Souss rhythms, traditional songs and electronic sounds, enhanced by visuals of Tafraout and the troupe thoughtfully produced by visual artist Kevin Le Dortz.

Raskas 

Raskas is a Casablanca-based duo of independent post-rock/experimental music, formed in 2013 and made up of two members driven by a shared passion for unique and innovative musical creation. The origin of the name "Raskas" comes from a rare species of "fish" that remains alive for 72 hours after being removed from the water. The duo see their music as ephemeral, fleeting and delicate. Through their compositions, they attempt to capture, eternalize and sacralize ineffable, volatile moments and emotions, exploring a variety of experimental sounds that blur the boundaries of traditional genres such as post-rock and electronica. At once transcendent and fragile, their music never fails to be deeply emotional. 

Ahwach Bnat Louz

Ahwach Bnat Louz is an Ahwach troupe based in Tafraout, founded by the late Amina Haddadi and currently directed by her sister Zahra Haddadi. This all-female group is a benchmark in its field, and is widely regarded as the first to perform the Ahwach genre in a professional setting. Over the years, they have carried the torch of this ancestral tradition to many prestigious events, including COP 22, Expo 2020 in Dubai and numerous other festivals across Morocco. What sets the Ahwach collective dance apart is its ability to forge deep human bonds among its practitioners. Spectators, too, find themselves swept away by the dance's spellbinding energy, and are often invited to join in. Ahwach is a staple of traditional festivities and gatherings, and is particularly celebrated on occasions such as the Amazigh New Year and Eid al-Adha. In every step and shoulder shrug characteristic of this dance, Ahwach Bnat Louz embody the spirit of unity and unwavering attachment to a deep-rooted identity, leaving an indelible imprint on all who witness their performances. Music : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D2EKkmDSqg

This second chapter in the Tekchbila adventure celebrates Ahwach, a traditional village dance deeply rooted in Amazigh heritage. Ahwach Bnat Louz, a women's troupe based in Tafraout, is emerging as a leading figure in this field. Considered Ahwach's first professional troupe, Bnat Louz has been performing for over 20 years, taking part in numerous festivals, both national and international. Their performance goes beyond mere folk entertainment and serves as a catalyst for the cultural revitalization of Amazigh identity. Raskas, an independent post-rock/electronica duo from Casablanca, embody the spirit of Morocco's effervescent young electronic scene, with their bold compositions pushing the boundaries of familiar electronic styles at every turn. Inspired by the ephemeral nature of time, they create music that captures fleeting moments and transcends them into profound emotions. Together, Ahwach Bnat Louz and Raskas embody the quintessence of the Tekchbila project: a bold joint exploration of new soundscapes, a celebration of Amazigh heritage and a harmonious synergy between ancestral traditions and contemporary creation. Through the performance AⵣMⵣ, the artists invite us on a transcendental musical journey, blending Amazigh poetry and slam, Souss pentatonic rhythms, traditional female choir chants and the sounds of squealing synthesizers and heady basslines. This immersive experience is enhanced by breathtaking visuals from Tafraout, telling the story of the troupe, the state of Amazigh heritage in Morocco today, and the magnificent Souss Massa region in the south of the country.

Tekchbila Manifesto

"Since its emergence, electronic music has unquestionably revolutionized the way we think about the very notion of sound, whether in terms of production, consumption, transmission or even preservation. This becomes clearer when we take a closer look at the musical cultures trending in neighboring African countries, from Kudoro to Accola, Kuwaito or Gqom. We can't help but admire the way these musical styles have conquered the world, while at the same time recognizing the role of electronic music in this expansion. Captivating audiences in every corner of the globe, these bewitching sounds reflect the true potential of the cultures from which they derive, eliminating all erroneous preconceptions on an unprecedented scale. A few years ago, all music from Africa was simply classified as "Afro-beat" or "World-music". Today, however, the distinctions between the rhythms of the different styles are increasingly clear, thanks to electronic music. As far as Amazigh music is concerned, we hope to achieve a similar level of recognition. We hope that the whole world will be able to distinguish between music from the Souss, the Rif or the Middle Atlas. However, such a goal can only be achieved through an in-depth commitment to each branch of the Moroccan Amazigh music tree. That's why we're beginning our adventure by focusing first and foremost on the musical heritage of the Souss Massa region, while aspiring to continue, beyond this project, to explore and reinvigorate the diversity of Amazigh sounds in all their glory."