Skip to main content

Algeria: Sahara: Music of Gourara

Various Artists
Algeria: Sahara: Music of Gourara Little is known about the history of the Gourara region of the Algerian Sahara. In 1987 it was home to over 60,000 Zenete, Bedouin, and Sudanese peoples in about one hundred oasis settlements. Whereas these ethnic groups retain distinct cultural identities, their musical styles show mutual influences, such as the use of polyphonic rhythms and religious subject matter.This recording illustrates both the diversity and shared characteristics of Gourara music, from the maraboutism, an Islamic ritual piece sung to pray for the fertility of the palm flowers, to the ahellil, music for religious feasts often performed over the course of an entire night. The liner notes provide a brief history about the region and background of each of the seven musical selections. This album is part of the UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music.

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Ba Saoud
07:50
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
Mahmi Amer
06:01
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Moulay Tayeb Brotherhood
08:14
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
Meherza singers with percussion and flute
09:07
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Date palm garden worker, Gourara
02:05
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Man singing with amzad, Gourara
04:51
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
107
Festival celebrants, Gourara
05:07