Moussem Nomadic Arts Centre

‘Amazigh Spring’

16 Jan.'22
- 16:00

Moussem and Bozar present the new edition of Amazigh Spring, a festival dedicated to the culture and struggles of North Africa’s first inhabitants, the Imazighen. Despite successive colonisations, the growing Arabisation of the Maghreb and the policies of denial and marginalisation of their identity, Imazighen communities continue to exist, to resist against their disappearance. For this new edition, linguist Mena B. Lafkioui will describe the current situation of the Amazigh people. Author Fatiha Saidi will then present her recent book Échos de la mémoire sur les montagnes du Rif (La Croisée des Chemins, 2021), before handing over to Amzik, an emerging group from the new Kabyle scene, which combines tradition and innovation. Performing with modern instruments (mandolin, guitar, bass guitar, piano and percussion) they give Kabyle blues a fresh and poetic approach.

Nonor

bendir , vocals

Karim

bendir , vocals

Didine

mandole , vocals

Hugo Proy

clarinet

Djamel Hamiteche

bendir , drums

François Tousch

piano

Martin Berauer

bass

Hervé le bouche

drums

Mena B. Lafkioui is a linguist specialised in Berber languages. She is currently research director at the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and professor of Berber linguistics at the Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales. In her lecture she focuses on the situation of the Imazigh people today.
Following the lecture, there will be a discussion with author Fatiha Saidi on her recent book Echos de la mémoire sur les montagnes du Rif (2021 - La Croisée des Chemins) in which she sketches 9 portraits of women from the Al Hoceima region.

Amzik is one of the most innovative and promising bands of the new Kabyle scene. The band members grew up with the Kabyle traditions, living and playing to the rhythm of the songs of Idir, Slimane Azem, Aït Menguellet and Matoub Lounès, the masters of the Kabyle repertoire. With Amzik, tradition and innovation go hand in hand. Their respectful treatment of these musical traditions is combined with great openness to other worldly musical influences. With a contemporary set of instruments (mandolin, guitar, bass, piano and percussion), modern arrangements and their own compositions, they bring their own, immensely popular version of the Kabylian blues.