Moroccan singer brings Amazigh culture to the masses

2007-03-22

Amazigh artist Yuba speaks with Magharebia about his musical roots, his desire to address social issues through song and his interest in collaborating with foreign musicians.

[File] Yuba

Yuba is one of Morocco’s pre-eminent Amazigh singers. The great grandson of the legendary singer Rais El Hussein Amzi has recently released a second album, entitled Stars in Daylight, in the Amazigh language.

Magharebia: Yuba, can you tell us something about how you started out?

Yuba: I come from a relatively humble background. I am from the South [from Agadir] and, of course, a Berber, as my songs attest. I would say my musical life began at home. When I was a lot younger we used to organise musical performances and dances in the courtyards of the houses in our neighbourhood. That, I think, was where I took my first musical steps! To start out like that, entirely naturally and among family, is a great thing. Those events were only for the women. They would put on their most beautiful traditional clothes, prepare tea and peanuts, then, all of a sudden, the show would begin. The folk-singing and dancing could last for hours. My memories of them are very faint because it was only while I was still a little boy that I was allowed to stay and enjoy the show.

Magharebia: Your new album came out a few months ago. What issues does it touch on?

Yuba: I sing not only about love but [also] about … problems that are eating away at our society. These days everyone talks about illegal immigration, but few have written songs about it. I really enjoy broaching those kinds of topics. I think song is a very good means of discussing some of the issues people are a bit tired of hearing discussed on TV. Songs can refresh the topics they describe and make people see them in a new light. That is what I would like to achieve with my songs: to increase people’s sensitivity about certain topics like illegal immigration, or drug abuse, or loss of identity. What’s more, in many regions, even if you have a TV and even if you bother turning it on, you don’t necessarily follow the news. But people always listen to songs whether they have TVs or not. Through music the message is passed on through the voice and the language of the people. Itran Azal, which means "stars in daylight" in Amazigh, is an album that touches on a whole range of topics.

Magharebia: Are there any other artists in your family besides you?

Yuba: No, I am the only recording artist. But there are women in my family who I would call true artists but who you will probably never see on the TV. I think that Moroccan families, and Amazigh families in particular, are bursting with creativity. Sometimes that art is discovered, sometimes not. My great-grandfather was Rais El Hussein and he was a great artist of traditional Amazigh music. Sadly, he never recorded anything. But I hope one day to gather together his works with the assistance of his daughter.

Magharebia: Would you ever want to sing with foreign artists or to fuse your music with other styles?

Yuba: Why not? I sing with Amazigh artists like myself and embrace the idea of singing with foreign singers, be they Arabs or others. My main aim is to preserve Amazigh music and all the culture that goes with it. I also hope to make it innovative and modern, while retaining its authenticity. It would also be interesting to write songs in Berber and Arabic, or in Berber and another language. Today, many musicians are open to exploring and merging with other styles, so why not Amazigh music? I am all for it. In fact, I’ve already begun experimenting with this in collaboration with singers such as Anetta in Germany.