MOROCCAN RAÏ:MODERN MUSIC

Nathan Ricks April 3, 2008

Dr. FennMoroccan Music

What is Raï Music? Raï is most commonly pronounced “rye” or

“rah-AY”. The term “raï “ is translated to mean

“opinion” in Algerian Arabic. Now this type of music is usually described

as pop music sung in the Arabic, or even French, language with a trace of World Beat influence.

It originally was just a combination of more popular music and traditional Bedouin desert Music.

Where is Raï Music? Raï originated in Oran, Algeria from the

Bedouin shepherds

Raï started in the in the 1930’s in Algeria

It spread across North Africa as a way to modernize music of the Arabian culture.

It is now spread all across the world with heavier focuses in the communities that can understand the lyrics, generally Arabic ones.

History of Raï:Background

In 1509 Oran, Algeria was invaded and captured by the Spanish

The Spanish troops kept women there to entertain the troops Creating a reputation for hedonism for Oran

In the early 20th century the city was divided into Jewish, French, Spanish, and Arab quarters.

Each having its own musical preference.

History cont.:Developement

Younger individuals had wished to modernize the music of their culture by cobining it with other things, and raï was the result .

However, many people didn’t agree with it, so raï music was seen as rebellious. Just like punk rock was in the 1970’s and rap is today.

Raï musicians were seen as indecent representations of society for a long time.

History cont.:Spread

It wasn’t until after the election of president Chadhli Benjedid in 1979 that raï was able to flourish, and successfully spread across North Africa and beyond due to the lessened moral hold on the Algerian community.

Prior to this raï had been opposed by the Algerian Government because of its sexually and culturally risqué topics, such as alcohol and consumerism, but president Chadhli Benjedid had a different view of it. He lossened moral and economic holds that prevented free expression, which is what raï is.

Song TranslationsJIBUHALU("BRING HIM TO HER")

SA'IDA BA'IDA("SA'IDA IS FAR AWAY")

Yabki wa ynuh, khayaf la az-zarga la truh

He cries and weeps; he's afraid that the brunette will leave (him)

Jibuhalu ya bni 'ammu jibuhalu Bring him to her, cousins (lit:

"children of my paternal uncle"), bring him to her

Jibuhalu kuntra 'alli ysaluhalu Bring him to her against those who

interferehttp://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/jibuhalu.au

Sa'ida ba'ida wa al-mashina ghalya wa ya

Saïda is far away and the train is expensive

Tahwas al-ghaba rgada al-khallaj Walking in the woods and sleeping

in the bushes

http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/Saida2.au

More TranslationsDABLAT GALBI("RUIN OF MY HEART")

Wa skantili al-galb ki al-'aahsh farsha, wa, ki al-'aeshsh farsha, wah

You stayed in my heart like a bird's nest in a tree, yeah, like a bird's nest in a tree

Ya kalmtak jarhatni ya al-khudmi la wa al-khudmi la, wah

Oh, your words wounded me, not the knife, yeah, not the knife

Wa yah dablat galbi wa yah dablat 'umri Oh, ruin of my heart, oh yeah, ruin of my

life

Ya ma tashtani, wa yah dablat 'umriYeah, don't hurt [crush] me, oh yeah, ruin of

my heart

http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/dablatgalbi.au

Instruments Traditional:

gasba (reed flute) derbouka (Maghrebi drums) Among others

More modern instruments: Violin Accordion Trumpets Electric guitar Synthesizers Drum machines Among others

Raï Terms Singers of more modern raï

music call themselves: Cheb/Chab (young man) Chabas (young woman)

Those of the more tradition style of raï, and generally older, call themselves: Shikh/Cheikh-male term Shikha/Cheikha- female term

Singers sometimes use these terms at the beginning of their names as a symbol of the raï music that they sing.

Types of Raï Traditional raï Pop-raï

The most popular and largest style of raï

Rock-raï Raï Retro Etc, etc

Artists Some more modern examples would be

music by: Cheb Mami Cheb Khaled Cheb Sahraoui Cheb Hasni Chaba Aicha Chaba Fadela

Artist can be found across North Africa, but mostly in Algeria.

Artist cont. An English sung example

of raï: “Brand New Day”,

Sting(1999) He utilized the vocal

styling of Cheb Mami on this album, and Mami's efforts could be easily noticed in the song "Desert Rose".

Bibliography Biddle , Ian, and Vanessa Knights. Music, National

Identity and the Politics of Location. Bodmin, Cornwall, Great Britain: Ashgate Oublishing Limited, 2007.

Romer, Megan. "Rai Music 101." About.com (2008) <http://worldmusic.about.com/od/venues/p/RaiMusic.htm>

"Rai Music History." Wikipedia <http://www.worlddiscoveries.net/African%2006/Rai%20Music%20History.htm>.

"Rai Music Samples." Center for Middle Eastern Studies, The University of Texas at Austin <http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/music.html>.