Reggada

The Reggada is a musical genre from the eastern Rif, in the Oriental region in the eastern part of Morocco.

Both the dance and the music originate from an ancient war dance of the Rifians fighters,^[1] known as Aarfa or Imdiazen.

Reggada music is very popular in the north east of Morocco (provinces of Nador, Berkane, Alhoceima, Driouch, Oujda, Taza, Guercif, Taourirt).

The Reggada dance reflects the warrior culture of the Rifians.

Origins

The Reggada originates from an ancient war dance, also called Aarfa or Alaoui. The Rifains warriors danced in victory over the enemy, hence the use of the gun and the foot strikes in the rhythm of the music. The Aarfa are an ancient family of Chioukh (Masters) of the Orient. The Chiekh chioukh (The master of masters) of the Aarfas carry the title Rifians ^[2]

The Aarfa dance and the Reggada music were propagated in areas adjacent to the Orient.

Dance

The dance is distinguished with the Chioukhs (masters) of the Reggada music. The dance is strongly marked by the Bendri, the Ghaita or the Zamar (a kind of flute with two horns typically an African instrument). The music often tells the stories of love, sadness, etc. The synthesizer is widely used since the late 1980s to punctuate the music. The Reggada is similar to other local music as Mangouchi or Tazi (region of Taza and Guercif).

They straddle it with shoulder movements, a rifle or a stick, striking the groin against the floor to the rhythm of drums.

References