Moussem Sounds: young Arab posse

(El Morabba3 © RV / DR)

On Saturday, Bozar is being taken over by Moussem Sounds, a co-production of Bozar and the Moussem Nomadic Arts Centre, which focuses on good contemporary Arabic music, both from there and here. Twelve hours of non-stop music in three halls, each with their own atmosphere: rock and fusion in Hall M, classical at the Henry Le Bœuf Hall, and urban in the 
Terarken room. Moussem Sounds aims to offer performance opportunities to young bands, whether they are young people of Maghreb descent in European cities or innovative groups from the Arab world. Andalus is opening the one-day festival in Hall M. These musicians from the Iraqi diaspora in Europe will introduce us to the maqams, the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music. Hijaz uses improvisation to bridge two worlds: jazz and classical Arabic music, creating a fine dialogue between East and West with Mediterranean influences. El Morabba3’s style is completely different. The rock group from Amman sings about the hopelessness of the world surrounding them, but also about hope and the determination to change the situation. The young Tuareg band Imarhan N’Tinezraf is closing Hall M with compelling rhythms and poetic compositions that go straight for your jugular.

(Houda Saad © DR / RV)

In the Henry Le Bœuf Hall, Samia Sabri & Ensemble Al Boughaz will perform a tribute to Warda Al-Jazairia, the “Rose of Algeria” who died in 2012. It will then be the turn of the crowd-puller of the evening: the Moroccan pop star Houda Saad, who is famous for competing in the Arabic version of the television programme X-Factor. She is coming to present her second album.

For our urban youth, the Terarken room is the place to be. Smadj, this season’s artist in residence at Bozar, is coming to present his new project Fuck the DJ, an ironic nod to the DJs who are increasingly taking the place of live musicians. His musical universe ranges from Balkan disco to hip hop to oriental dubstep and minimal techno. Afterwards there’s hip hop all night with the Antwerp-based rappers of NoMoBS (No More Bullshit), the Franco-Algerian rapper Rim’K, and H-Kayne. The rapper from Meknes put Moroccan hip hop on the map by combining Western beats with traditional Moroccan melodies and socially committed lyrics about corruption and personal freedom.

MOUSSEM SOUNDS 23/11, 15.00, €15/25, Bozar, rue Ravensteinstraat 23, Brussel/Bruxelles, 02-507.82.00, www.bozar.be