Aïta Mon Amour (MA/TN)

FOR FANS OF: Acid Arab, Abadir, Bab L’Bluz.

Even before their debut album Abda came out in January, Moroccan hip-hop pioneer Widad Mjama and Tunisian Khalil Epi, one of the key figures on the Arabic electronic scene, were lighting up festivals and venues all over, and showing how powerful tradition can be when paired with the latest sounds of the Arab world. Audiences, it seems, can’t get enough of the duo’s silky textures, set against the desert blast of live electronics and electric oud.

Widad Mjama (vocals) / Khalil Epi (electric oud, electronics)

With a history that reaches back almost 900 years, Aïta is poetry sung by women known as cheikhates. Widad and Khalil have carefully prised open this Moroccan treasure chest to show us jewels set within unique fusion of song and musical accompaniment, revive sounds seldom heard before, and evoke in outline those mighty Abda women who have given humanity a truly astonishing legacy that is nothing less than a gift of love. Aïta Mon Amour are a fascinating dose of indie rock from the 12^th century.

Co-produced by Druga Godba & Kino Šiška.

Supported by Liveurope. Liveurope is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.