Moroccan Folk Music & Dance (sound file, videos, & comments)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases eight examples of Moroccan folk music and dancing. Most if not all of these examples are from Amazigh (Berber) culture.

Selected comments from these examples' viewer discussion threads are also included in this post. Some of these comments are followed by explanatory quotes from Wikipedia.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these examples video on YouTube.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting date on YouTube, with the oldest example given first.

Example #1:. lhaj belaid (otbib)



rachidon5 Uploaded on Jan 2, 2009

amarg lkdim
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Selected comments:
merhasfat, 2009
"top disc"

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Youssef Youcf, 2010
"Un homme exceptionnel dans l'histoire de souss"
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Google Translate from French to English:
"An exceptional man in the history of Souss"
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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sous
"The Sous or Souss (Berber: Tamazirt n Sus, Arabic بلاد السوس bilād as-Sūs) is a region in southern Morocco. Geologically, it is the alluvial basin of the Oued Sous (Asif n Sus), separated from the Sahara by the Anti-Atlas Mountains."...

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Brahim Benhim, 2010
"Attir7am rabbi. iwaliwn d'amarg nel ma3qol. Long Live Tamazirt."
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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Atlas_Tamazight
"Tamazight [tæmæˈzɪɣt], [θæmæˈzɪɣθ]) is a Berber language[nb 1] of the Afro-Asiatic language family, spoken by 3 to 5 million people in the Atlas mountains of Central Morocco, as well as by smaller emigrant communities in France and elsewhere."...

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Example #2: Vidéo Maroc Marrakech découverte des danses traditionnelles ( oriental dance Marrakech Morocco )



Claude Aven Uploaded on May 27, 2010

...( english ) discovery of folk dances and Oriental in a former palace in the medina of Marrakech
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Notice from 1:16-2:13, a man dancing with a candle lit chandelier type fixture on his head.

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Example #3: Morocco children's dances Fas Turkey.



патриотом или предателем, Uploaded on Feb 14, 2011

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Example #4: old moroccan song



ganga mocro Uploaded on Mar 15, 2011
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Selected comments:
Cavani Blowfish, 2013
"what is this piece called? please answer"

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halmosandras, 2013
"it is called hamdoucha"

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rachid saber, 2015
"old Moroccan style"

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Example #5: Moroccan Dance Tamazight



TheAlgbadis Uploaded on Aug 23, 2011

this is a video showing a beautiful girl performing the moroccan amazigh dance , enjoy :)


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Example #6: dance berbere (tres bon duo)

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Chaîne de ahmede61 Uploaded on Nov 3, 2011

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Example #7: Traditional Berber Amazigh Folklore Music & Dance / (Maroc / Morocco) Part II



eMoroccan Published on Mar 15, 2012
-snip-
Quote about the word "Amazigh"
From http://www.journeybeyondtravel.com/news/morocco-travel/morocco-travel-berbers.html
"You are headed to the African nation of Morocco. Your Moroccan tour operator has told you about visiting Berber villages. You have heard all about the Berber craftsmen, their knowledge of the land, some of their indestructible history and maybe a bit more. Or perhaps you’ve never heard of them at all. Just who are these Berber people? A Moroccan pre-Arab culture has ruled unperturbed and unconquered for hundreds of years. Let’s take a look at this amazing people.

Morocco Berber History

Believe it or not, Berber history goes back to prehistoric times. They’ve been around for at least 4000 years or maybe more. Calling themselves Amazigh, the proud raiders, they fought against the Romans, Arab, and French invaders. Even though the Romans and others have tried to colonize the Berber people, they have managed to preserve their own language and culture and in reality were never beaten!"...

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Example #8: Moroccan Traditional Berber Music



brahim guidee, Published on Mar 4, 2014

http://bestofcrafts.blogspot.com

From the old folk pieces of the Berber mountain communities, to the Arab-Andalusian Moroccan musicof the cities, to the roots-fusion that you'll discover blaring from taxi radios and café ghetto blasters, Moroccan music is the supreme expression of Morocco's culture.

Morocco is a potent land in terms of musical abilities and production. All around the land you will all of the time ear Moroccan musicon the streets, taxis, buses, restaurants, and even people singing or playing drums on the streets. Generally speaking, Moroccans are quite active in terms of musicality and dance. Moroccan music features two different ambiances given both by Arabic music and also Berber music.

There are many genres of Moroccan music. It includes Arab, Berber, classical, and popular elements. Musicians perform in concerts, in cafes, at private homes, ceremonies, marriages, funerals, and religious processions. It is also used to accompany dancing and storytelling.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Examples Of Traditional Afro-Ecuadorian Bomba Music & Dance

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents information about and examples of traditional Afro-Ecuadorian Bomba music and dance. Ecuador is a country in South America.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who keep alive traditional Afro-Ecuadorian culture. Thanks all those who are e featured in these videos and thanks to those who are quoted in this post and the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT AFRO- ECUADORIANS
Note: Ecuador is a country in South America.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Ecuadorian
"Afro-Ecuadorians are an ethnic group in Ecuador who are descendants of formerly enslaved Africans brought by the Spanish during their conquest of Ecuador from the Incas. They make up from 4% to 6% of Ecuador's population.[1][2]

Ecuador has a population of about 1,120,000 descendants from African people. The Afro-Ecuadorian culture is found primarily in the country's northwest coastal region. Africans form a majority (70%) in the province of Esmeraldas and the Valle del Chota in the Imbabura Province. They can be also found in Quito and Guayaquil. Their best known cultural influence known outside of Ecuador is a distinctive kind of marimba music...

Most Afro-Ecuadorians are the descendants of enslaved Africans which originally arrived in Ecuador from the early 16th century. In 1533, the first enslaved Africans reached Ecuador in Quito when a slave ship heading to Peru was stranded off the Ecuadorian coast. The enslaved Africans escaped and established maroon settlements in Esmeraldas, which became a safe haven as many Africans fleeing slave conditions either escaped to there or were forced to live there. Eventually, they started moving from their traditional homeland and were settling everywhere in Ecuador.

Racism deeply ingrained from the Spanish colonial era is still found; Afro-Ecuadorians are strongly discriminated against by the mestizo and criollo populations.[citation needed] Poverty is rampant amongst them. Many Afro-Ecuadorians have participated in sports, for instance playing with the Ecuadorian national football team. After slavery was abolished in 1851, Africans became marginalized in Ecuador , dominated by the plantation owners.[3]

Afro-Ecuadorians live all over the country but there are two places of historic presence which are Esmeraldas province and the Chota Valley in Imbabura province. There is a strong presence in Quito and Guayaquil which have neighborhoods with high Afro-Ecuadorian populations and also Ibarra....

Culture
...Marimba music comes from Esmeraldas, and gets its name from the prominent use of marimbas, along with drums and other instruments specific to this region such as the bombo, the cununo and the wasa. Sometimes this music is played in religious ceremonies, as well as in celebrations and parties. It features call and response chanting along with the music. Some of the rhythms associated with it are currulao, bambuco and andarele.”...
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Balancing a bottle on the head is a traditional feature of Ecuadorian Bomba dancing. The custom of dancing while balancing a bottle on one's head is documented as occurring in some African American plantation dances. It appears that this custom-or the custom of dancing while balancing some other object on one's head-is an African Diaspora tradition that comes from certain African cultures.* While most of the YouTube videos of Bomba dancing show some of the women dancing with a bottle on their head, a photograph of a man dancing with a bottle on his head is shown at 2:53 in the Example #3 below.

*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/09/dancing-carrying-object-on-head-videos.html for a pancocojams post that includes more videos of dancers balancing an object on their head.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting date on YouTube, with the oldest examples given first etc.

Example #1: Bomba del Valle del Chota Ecuador



LA CULTURA ECUATORIANA EN FRANCIA, Uploaded on Oct 5, 2007

Esta es una representacion afro-ecuatoriana del hermoso valle caliente del Chota, que esta ubicado en plena cordillera andina del Ecuador
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Google Translate from Spanish to English "This is a representation of Afro-Ecuadorian Hot beautiful Chota Valley, which is located in the heart of the Andes Ecuador"

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Example #2: Bomba - Música afroecuatoriana



No name given, Uploaded on Nov 17, 2008

Este ritmo característico se denomina Bomba, y es originario del Valle del Chota (Ecuador), ritmos afroecuatorianos con mucho sabor y cultura......
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Google Translate from Spanish to English: "This is called a pump characteristic rhythm, and is originally from Valle del Chota (Ecuador), Ecuadorians flavorful rhythms and culture ......"
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Notice that Bomba is translated as “pump”.

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Example #3: PASITO TUN - TUN - Versión Original - Las Bombas de Oro de Nuestra Tierra .wmv



joop517 Uploaded on Nov 4, 2010

Uno de los ritmos típicos de nuestro floklore, único en su género a nivel mundial, identidad de un pueblo y una nación.
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Google Translate from Spanish to English: "One of the typical rhythms of our folklores, unique in its kind worldwide, the identity of a people and a nation."
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Also, notice the photographs of gourd instruments being used as horns, for instance at 1:57.

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Example #4: Afro Ecuadorian La Bomba Dance



dreaflan, Uploaded on Dec 16, 2010

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Example #5: Bombas Ecuatorianas Video Mix



Misterbebefullmix, Uploaded on Mar 10, 2011

... musica ecuatoriana del valle del chota ibarra, va dedicado para todas las personas que me pidieron este set espero que les guste y lo disfruten
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Google Translate from Spanish to English: "Ecuadorian music ... ibarra chota Valley, is dedicated to all the people who asked me this set hope you like it and enjoy"

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Example #6: Bomba, an afro Ecuadorian rhythm



Prensa Latina, Published on Jun 7, 2012

In Valle la Chota, North of Ecuador, people from a black settlement keeps alive the La Bomba music, an afro Ecuadorian rhythm played with drums, guitars and other musical instruments.

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Example #7: Bomba Salinas Imbabura Ecuador



jbfa79, Published on Oct 23, 2012
Danza típica de nuestra cultura Afro-Ecuatoriana (HD Video)
-snip-
Typical dance of our Afro-Ecuadorian culture.

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Example #8: Bomba dancers in Salinas, Ecuador



Peg Reilly Published on Sep 12, 2013

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Brazilian Songs & Dances For Iansã (Yansã, Oya)

Tony Obá Ojuteran Almeida December 23, 2011
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From http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acaraj%C3%A9
"Acarajé is the most popular street food in the north eastern state of Brazil, Bahia. The recipe for acarajé was introduced to Bahia by slaves who came from Nigeria during the colonial period. In Nigeria acarajé is named Akara, and the women who sell it call out "Akara je", which means "Come and eat Akara" in Yoruba."...

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision -Dec 4, 2022

This pancocojams post showcases multiple YouTube videos of Brazilian songs & dances for the orixa (orisa/orisha) Iansã (Oya).

Information about Oya (Iansa/Yansa) in Candomble (Santeria) is also provided in this post.

The content of this post is provided for religious, folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Maferefun Oya. Thanks to all vocalists, musicians, and dancers who are featured in this post. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. In addition, thanks to the publishers of these YouTube sound files and videos.

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INFORMATION ABOUT IANSA (OYA)
From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iansan
Iansan (Iansã in Portuguese) is a spirit entity, or Orisha (Orixá), of the Afro-Brazilian religious faith Candomblé. Iansan is the Orisha of the winds, hurricanes and tempests. She lives at the gate of the graveyard, and has dominion over the realm of the Dead. Her name in English means "mother of nine (children).".
She is sincretized with Saint Barbara and particularly known with her association with the colour red and the salute "Epahei"."...
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Iansan (Iansã) = Yansa (Yanza; Yanzan)

"Epahei" is a Yoruba word that is also given as "Epparrei", "Eparrey", "Epa hei", "Epa Hey" and similar spellings. That exclamation means something like "Praises to ___"
[Information from http://www.magneticmag.com/2014/05/dimitri-vegas-like-mike-diplo-fatboy-slim-eparrei/ -comment: Ana Arcanjo, 2014
"Hey guys! Just to let you know: the lyrics [in that featured Brazilian record] are not in Português. They are actually in Yoruba, an African ancient language that is spoken in the Afro-Brazilian religion called Umbanda or Candomblé. Eparrei, babá means something like: praise Our Lord.""

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From http://santeria.tribe.net/thread/5bd35e1a-9c5a-4ff5-aeb2-55d12afad558
Oya topic posted Tue, January 18, 2011 - 1:25 PM by Ged
"Oya, known also as Iansan (Mother of Nine) is the Santeria Queen of the Dead, Goddess of Winds and Storms and Lightning, Guardian of the Gates of the Cemetery, Deity of commercialism and markets, mother of the Ibellies (depending on the house),

Oya is a great warrior. She was the wife of Ogun, and a paramour of Shango. She was seduced by Shango, and is part of the reason of their age old feud. Oya and Shango have battled against each other many times, and so have she and Ogun, and neither was able to best her in battle. Though she could not beat them, she was able to stand toe-to-toe with them in both martial and magical prowess.

She is depicted as a woman dressed in many colors, for she is marked by 9 colors (no black), which represent her nine children. Originally a river goddess in Africa (of the Niger river), when Africans arrived in Cuba they syncretized her with the violent storms and hurricanes of the Caribbean, due to her tempestuous and fiery nature. She is syncretized with the spark that leads the lightning bolt to Earth, something that was not discovered until late in the 20th century. She is the lightning, the fiery whip that Olofi wields to strike at the Earth...

It is said that because Shango, her lover, resides in the Palm tree, lightning never strikes it. Paired with Shango, they are the lightning and thunder. She is also a great sorceress, and can spit fire because she tasted the magical concoction that Shango prepared in his magacal mortar"...

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From http://www.mythopoetry.com/mythopoetics/scholar11_katsuko_oster_candombl%C3%A9.html
Alchemical Axé Hieros Gamos in Brazilian Candomblé Rites by Kris Katsuko Oster
..."Building and transferring axé, the energy or life force that courses through all of creation, are the central intentions of Candomblé rituals. Although axé is invisible and cannot be viewed with ordinary “seeing” or the eyes, it exists in the dancer’s movement, the drums’ rhythms, the colors of the ritual garments, and the herbs scattered on the floor of the terreiro Subtle and intangible, axé can be sensed in the natural world through intense heat or gentle, cool breezes blowing across your brow.

Orixás rule over the elements, and through trance-possession become doorways to both experiencing and observing axé in artful motion. All of nature—including flora, fauna, rocks, mountains, rivers—is sacred and alive with axé. Art and musical instruments, such as drums, sculpture and ritual garments pulsate with the sacred energy of axé.

Candomblé devotees strive to be in alignment with universal forces. The harmony of nature, culture, family and a person’s psychological and physical health depend on a cosmological balance of feminine and masculine attributes.

Candomblé initiation rites are comparable to oppositional elements found in the Jungian alchemical process of individuation. For example, the opposition between “hot” and “cool” is eloquently laid out by Paul Christopher Johnson in Secrets, Gossip and Gods: The Transformation of Brazilian Candomblé, who claims that the coolness of women and the heat of men are cosmological truths in the Candomblé worldview. Besides gender, “hot” and “cool” are descriptions given to orixás, food, animals, the elements (earth, air, fire and water) and colors:

female: earth and water: white: “coolness”: primordial mass::
male: sky and fire: red/black: “heat”: individual creation.
(Johnson 40)

While female orixás are considered “cool” and male orixás are considered “hot,” there is no finite categorical system that everything fits neatly into. For example, Iansã is considered a “hot” orixá, in spite of being female, and Oxalá, the father of the orixás, is “cool” (Johnson 40)....

Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch–every sense is engaged in the rites of Candomblé. These aesthetics permeated my soul.”…
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axé = ase, ashe From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orisha "Ashe, which is also spelled "Ase", "Axe," "Axé," "Aché," or "Ache," is the life-force that runs through all things, living and inanimate. Ashe is the power to make things happen. It is an affirmation which is used in greetings and prayers, as well as a concept about spiritual growth."...

orixas= orisa [orishas]

Iansã = Yansa

Oxalá = Obatalá

Iemanjá =Yemanjá [who is also mentioned in this article]
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Additional information about the orixa (orisa/orisha) Iansã (Oya) is found in some of the summaries and comments of the featured YouTube examples found below.

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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS 
With the exception of Showcase Video #1, these examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting date on YouTube, with the oldest examples given first.

Example #2: yansã eparrei oya



josealves santana Uploaded November 27, 2009

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Example #3: Rita Ribeiro e Maria Bethânia - Iansã



RITA RIBEIRO, uploaded on May 8, 2010

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Example #4: Acarajé de Iansã Video 6



Tony Obá Ojuteran Almeida, December 24, 2011

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Example #5: IANSÃ - Margareth Menezes e Daniela Mercury -oya por nos

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luiz237, Sept 14, 2012

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbuqOYea8IM for a lengthy comment about Iansa in Portuguese including this excerpt :
"Oya a deusa do Rio Niger, e representada com um alfange e uma cauda de animal nas maos e com um chifre de bufalo na cintura. Na mitologia ioruba, Xango casou-se com tres de-suas irmas deusas de rio: Oya, Oxum, deusas do rio Osun e Oba, deusa do rio Oba… "

[Google translate from Portuguese to English:
"Oya the goddess of the River Niger, and represented with a cutlass and a tail of animal [in maos e ?] with a buffalo horn at the waist. In Yoruba mythology, Shango married three of his sisters- river goddesses: Oya, Oshun, goddess of the Osun river and Oba, Oba river goddess".....

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Example #6: IANSA XANGO Monobloco



SENZALA DE UMBANDA, Published October 19, 2012

Comment:
Julia Ramos, 2013
Salve mamãe Iansã
Save [me/us] mother Yansa [Google translate from Portuguese to English]
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I think this means "Save me/us Mother Yansã."

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Example #7: Salve Iansa



SENZALA DE UMBANDA, Published Oct 20, 2012

Comment:
Viviane C M Leite, 2014
"Yansã reigns over Wednesdays. She's the master of thunders and lightnings, the Queen of the storms... who encourages and promotes changes...she's the mighty warrior in every women."

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Ugandan Singer Dr Phoebe Abe - "Oprah" & "Naomi Campbell" (Acholi Songs & Dances)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two songs by Dr Phoebe Abe. Both of these songs refer to two Acholi (Luo) females, one who is named after a Black female celebrity from the United States and one who is named after a Black female from the United Kingdom.

This post provides some information about Dr. Phoebe Abe's foundation and also includes selected comments from these YouTube videos' discussion thread.

The content of this post are presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

I'm particularly interested in the dances that are shown in these videos, and especially in the females dancing while balancing a number of clay pots on their head.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Dr. Phoebe Abe for singing these songs. Thanks also to all those who are featured in these videos, those who are quoted in this post, the video producers, and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT DR. ABE'S FOUNDATION
From http://www.drabefoundation.com/
"The primary aim of The DR ABE FOUNDATION is to support young people, especially single mothers and widows, by investing in their education and empowering them.

Acholi Heart Beat [AHB] is a dancing, singing, acting and performing charity organization founded by Dr. Phoebe Arach Abe Okwonga, (a medical practitioner in Great Britain) in July 2003.The members consist of students who are mostly orphans, teachers and villagers (people living in internally displaced peoples camps)."...

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FEATURED VIDEOS
Dr Phoebe Abe (Oprah)



DirePRwotAwich, Uploaded on Aug 22, 2010

Oprah has chosen to marry Akem
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Selected comments from this video's viewer comment thread. These comments are presented in chronological order based on the year that they were posted to this discussion thread with the oldest comments posted first.

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtySH2CHImw

Mary W Goler, 2012
"This is one of my favorites. I love the way Luo tribe people dance and this song guaranteed to leave you smile. Simple things make happy. Please, comment if you like it"
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Note: The Acholis are also called "Luos".

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ric ricland, 2012
"Could someone provide some background infomation? Who are these people? What country, etc?"

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in reply to ric ricland
jauze2, 2012
"they look like the acholi tribe of south sudan but originally from northern uganda judging by the colors of their feathers(ugandan country colors). its a nice song."

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in reply to ric ricland

CELEBRATING AFRICA, 2012
"@ricland these are acholis from northeren uganda "

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Micah Kenyi, 2013
"This is very traditional, enticing and reflects more of the cultures of the people of South Sudan. Brings into memory the richness of the traditional culture that is embedded in the people's culture in South Sudan. Also reminds me in particular of the bye gone days of my venture and journey into Uganda attracted by................. Oh, yes those beautiful moments"

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OpioChris, 2013
in reply to delagrazia
"I know this area very well; the clothing is traditional, but the tune is synthetic. The local instruments do not sound like these ones. The women are performing in a traditional way."

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Susan Go-Deos, 2013
"I love everything about this video but it's not a fair play. More focus on Akem's happiness and how Oprah should do all to make Akem happy- Where do you put Oprah's happiness??? There is a missing link with the current situation where culture is dynamic. - A woman deserves happiness as well. I know there many women who will agree with me in this part of the world. Great dance though.&

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Example #2: Dr Abe tribute to Naomi Campbell



Wilson Okwonga, Published on Apr 9, 2012

Acholi from Northern Uganda
Acholi Heartbeat dancers
Performing:Carrying Traditional clay pots of Acholi people
Larakaraka dance (youth dance)
Naomi is wearing Ceno traditional outfit
-snip-
Here are two comments Selected comments from this video's viewer comment thread.
MUSE93, 2012
"Nice. It's incredible how the girls can carry those clay pots. Great video"

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Wilson Okwonga, 2013
in reply to annalarosa
"Thank you very much Much appreciated by those children in the Northern Uganda they lived all their lives in the camps They will be happy to know that you appreciate their efforts."

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