Moroccan Raï : Modern music

1. Moroccan Raï:Modern music Nathan Ricks April 3, 2008 Dr. Fenn Moroccan Music

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. History cont.:Spread • It wasn’t until after the election of president ChadhliBenjedid 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 ChadhliBenjedid had a different view of it. He lossened moral and economic holds that prevented free expression, which is what raï is.

7. Song Translations Jibuhalu("Bring Him to Her") Sa'idaBa'ida("Sa'ida is Far Away") Yabkiwaynuh, khayaf la az-zarga la truh He cries and weeps; he's afraid that the brunette will leave (him) Jibuhaluyabni 'ammujibuhalu Bring him to her, cousins (lit: "children of my paternal uncle"), bring him to her Jibuhalukuntra 'alliysaluhalu Bring him to her against those who interfere http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/jibuhalu.au Sa'idaba'idawa al-mashinaghalyawaya Saïda is far away and the train is expensive Tahwas al-ghabargada al-khallaj Walking in the woods and sleeping in the bushes http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/Saida2.au

8. More Translations DablatGalbi("Ruin of my Heart") Waskantili al-galbki al-'aahshfarsha, wa, ki al-'aeshshfarsha, wah You stayed in my heart like a bird's nest in a tree, yeah, like a bird's nest in a tree Yakalmtakjarhatniya al-khudmi la wa al-khudmi la, wah Oh, your words wounded me, not the knife, yeah, not the knife Wa yah dablatgalbiwa yah dablat 'umri Oh, ruin of my heart, oh yeah, ruin of my life Ya ma tashtani, wa yah dablat 'umri Yeah, don't hurt [crush] me, oh yeah, ruin of my heart http://menic.utexas.edu/rai/sounds/dablatgalbi.au

9. Instruments • Traditional: • gasba (reed flute) • derbouka (Maghrebi drums) • Among others • More modern instruments: • Violin • Accordion • Trumpets • Electric guitar • Synthesizers • Drum machines • Among others

10. 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.

11. Types of Raï • Traditional raï • Pop-raï • The most popular and largest style of raï • Rock-raï • Raï Retro • Etc, etc

12. Artists • Some more modern examples would be music by: • ChebMami • ChebKhaled • ChebSahraoui • ChebHasni • ChabaAicha • ChabaFadela • Artist can be found across North Africa, but mostly in Algeria.

13. Artist cont. • An English sung example of raï: • “Brand New Day”, Sting(1999) • He utilized the vocal styling of ChebMami on this album, and Mami's efforts could be easily noticed in the song "Desert Rose".

14. Bibliography • Biddle , Ian, and Vanessa Knights. Music, National Identity and the Politics of Location. Bodmin, Cornwall, Great Britain: AshgateOublishing 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>.