Moroccan singer brings cultures together through artistic dialogue

2007-03-05

Moroccan artist Touria Hadraoui fuses traditional Moroccan singing with Western music, hoping to unite cultures and erase borders.

By Imane Belhaj for Magharebia from Casablanca -- 05/03/07

[Imane Belhaj] Touria Hadrauoi

Moroccan artist Touria Hadraoui remains constantly open to cultural influences from around the world, enriching her country’s heritage and giving it a contemporary feel. Her latest concert, with Russian piano player Simon Nabatov, organised by the German Goethe-Institut in Morocco, blended Western music with the authenticity of Moroccan Malhoun.

The concert was held at the Cathedral in Rabat as part of a tour that also included the cities of Meknès and Tangiers.

"Good rhythm, purposeful lyrics and beautiful performances touch audiences of [all] nationalities and affiliations, and music does away with difference. Creativity unites peoples, and art generally has no country or borders," Hadraoui told Magharebia. "When we speak the language of the heart, we address all hearts."

Hadraoui considers her co-operation with Nabatov, who is visiting Morocco for the first time, as proof that music is able to stimulate dialog and generate closeness between peoples at a time when politics and politicians are unable to do so. "My audience consisted of both Moroccans and foreigners, and nevertheless, there was much correspondence between us, because the single language that prevailed at the concert was the language of music… this is a beautiful thing," she said.

At the cathedral in Rabat, Hadraoui performed the kasida (poem) "Fatima" in the Malhoun style. She also sang in Andalusian, performing a Sufi kasida from Tetouane, accompanied by Nabatov. She says this performance made her feel that the spirits of Moroccan and Andalusian poets were conversing with the works of Mozart and Beethoven, and with jazz music.

The experience "enriched me and will also enrich Moroccan heritage. Furthermore, it gave Nabatov great confidence in Moroccan heritage. For he was fearful of embarking on the venture, but after the success of the Rabat Cathedral concert, which alternated between his playing traditional Andalusian-Moroccan Malhoun and jazz melodies, Nabatov came to desire more such experiences."

Hadraoui previously performed songs with Malhoun and Andalusian music alongside international musicians. She has an upcoming project with French jazz musician Louis Clavis.

Hadraoui’s turn toward traditional Andalusian music is a recent one; the bulk of her recordings are in the Malhoun style. Her albums include "Café of Meanings: Examples from Moroccan Sufi Music", released in 1998, as well as "African Rhythms" and "Andalusia". She has given a number of performances in Europe.