Reggada

Reggada is a musical genre and traditional dance from the Eastern Rif and Oriental region in Morocco.[1]

Reggada Arabic: الرڭادة‎ Berber languages: ⴰⵕⴻⴳⴰⴷⴰ
Reggada dance in Aknoul
Stylistic origins	Berber music, Moroccan music
Cultural origins	Rif, Morocco
Typical instruments	Traditional instruments Adjounn, Tamja, Galal, Ghaita, Zamar and modern: synthesizer
Fusion genres
Rifi – Reggada
Other topics
Moroccan music

History

Origins

Both the music and the dance originate from an ancient war dance of Rifian fighters. It is also known as Aarfa in Arabic (meaning upper) and Imdiazen in Amazigh (meaning musicians).

Etymology

Reggada is named after the Moroccan villages of Ain Erreggada and Tala-n-Areggada near Berkane. These Zenati tribes are also called Bneznasan and have traditional war dance and music after victory over the enemy, and thus the use of weapons and foot strikes in the rhythm of music.[2]

Location

Aarfa dance and Reggada music were published in the vicinity of the north east regions of Morocco. Thus, it is very popular in the provinces such as Nador, Berkane, Alhoceima, Driouch, Oujda, Taza, Guercif and Taourirt.

Dance and music

The dance is characterised with the masters (locally called sheikhs). These masters play music and dance using several traditional instruments such as Bendri, Ghaita and Zmmar which is a kind of flute with two horns typically found in Africa. The dancers use move their shoulders, a rifle or a stick and strike the groin against the floor to the rhythm of drums.

The music often tells stories about topics such as love, emotions of sadness and happiness. From the late 1980s, music synthesizer are increasingly widely used.

References

1. Nielsen, Jorgen; Akgönül, Samim; Alibašic, Ahmet; Maréchal, Brigitte; Moe, Christian (2009-09-24). Yearbook of Muslims in Europe, Volume 1. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-474-2850-3.
2. "Page non trouvée - Aujourd'hui le Maroc".