- country:Morocco
- region:North Africa
- style(s):Ethnic, Gnawa
- label:igloo
- type:Band
- instrumentation:vocal
- artist posted by:Gekkobeat
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Majid Bekkas was born and still lives in Sale, Morocco. He learnt Gnawa music through the teachings of the master Ba Houmane. Gnawa appeared in the 16th century. During the conquest of Sudan, Ahmed El Mansour Dahbi set up the first trading and cultural links between Timbuktu, near Zagora where Bekkas comes from, and Marrakech. The secular music is still considered the "healer of souls" from Essaouira to Marrakech, easily understandable when you listen to the spellbinding sound of Bekkas' voice, guembri and guitar. Like a watermark, the mystery of Africa can be felt in the backround, alongside the blues. Gnawa's intact purity is the essence of the authenticity. By claiming to be part of Africa, the mother of the blues and ist numerous offspring such as funk, Bekkas is placing Gnawa in its primary dimension. By opening the spectrum (including elements of contemporary western music), Bekkas attains a universal status that is nurtured by the path he travelled. These include: jazz, alongside pioneers such as Peter Broetzmann, Archie Shepp, Flavio Boltro, Louis Sclavis.
With "Daymallah" Bekkas represents Morocco on the award-winning CD compilation "Desert Blues 2". He already performed at several international festivals, such as WOMEX Sevilla 2003, Gaume Jazz Festival, Huyart Festival, Grenoble Jazz Festival, Festival de Essaouira, ...
Bekkas' openness and ability to balance modernism and memory with a rare talent that knews no compromise, frees the music from the stamp of time. The memory is that of pain and wisdom, of songs that come from the slaves of Africa. The modernism is demonstrated with discretion and tact by the flutist Hassan Souissi and the percussionist Abdellfettah Houssaini. A musical marriage or dialogue whose perfect harmony makes the fruit in itself essential. Rather like a promise.