B’net Houariyat is formed by five women from the region of Marrakech, singing and dancing to the rhythm of their drums, performing traditional music of the Huara (the region between Taroudant and Tiznit), of the Hammada (plain of the Dra’a), together with Berber dances and urban styles like the Aitci (female seductive appeal) and the Chaabi, popular style that originated Rai music.
The image of women as represented by the music of B’net Houariyat reflects the multiple facets of Islam on a daily life and the female condition, above and beyond the stereotypes, with emotion, humor and energy. Among the themes of their songs: the exaltation of love and beauty, the cry of the young woman that refuses the combined marriage with a rich old man, the derision of the man that has more wives and that works to maintain them, the ritual dance of the woman possessed by her spirits, the incitement to the Moroccan football team in occasion of the World Cup 1998, the criticism of Bob Marley and pop’s fanaticism.
The group played for the first time out of their traditional context in July 1995, in Milan, at the Festival Notti di San Lorenzo. Since then, B’net Houariyat has numerous international festivals and concert halls.
At the end of the 1990s, there were some changes made to the group by a French promoter that led to conflicts. Two groups ended up touring under similar names: B’net Houariyat and Binet Houariyat. The professional musicians formed a new band called Bnet Marrakech, and B’net Houariyat remained with its traditional focus.
B’net Houariyat:
Zahi-a Bani: voice, ta`cuija, tubsil
Khadija Haliba: voice, dance, ta arija, bendir
Malika Rahmi: voice, dance, tara
Sai’da Madrani: voice, d’awd’a
Halima Zeiter: voice, dance, naqqiis, triydr
Discography:
Love Poems of the Women of Southern Morocco (Al Sur, 1995)
Voix Des Femmes De Marrakech (Al Sur, 1997)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.