Projects
Throughout the world, oral traditions are passed on from generation to generation. In Belgium for example, women from the Moroccan diaspora sing traditional songs, repeating them tirelessly to maintain a link with their homeland.
As a tribute to these women, Laïla Amezian created the Fatmas de Belgica to keep this link alive. From 2014 till 2024, the women’s choir was part of the global project Chaabi Habibi, through which Laïla takes inspiration from this traditional repertoire in order to contribute to our multiple identities in the image of a metropolis like Brussels.
The Fatmas de Belgica project existed in 2 artistic formulas. At the occasion of the project’s final year 2024, Laïla and the choir ventured into a new musical experience with the Gnawa universe.
CHAABI MON AMOUR | Fatmas de Belgica & B’net Chaabi
Laïla drew on the chaabi tradition to develop her own original repertoire. Building on traditional elements such as lament, poetry in the Moroccan Arabic Darija dialect and trance-like rhythms, she added Western vocal elements to create a contemporary version.
Line-up
Fatmas de Belgica | women’s choir (+/- 15 choir members)
B’net Chaabi (4 musicians) | Souhaila Riahi: vocals, Mehdiya Sultana: keyboard, Kawtar Abdoune: percussion & vocals, Jamila Akhdim: percussion & vocals
Laïla Amezian: choir direction
CHAABI ANDALOUSI | Fatmas de Belgica, B’net Chaabi & Quatuor Satellite
The choir, accompanied by Quatuor Satellite and members of B’net Chaabi, performed extracts from Morocco’s Arab-Andalusian repertoire arranged for a string quartet. A subtle poetry carried by two classical musical universes. A unique musical experience!
Line-up
Fatmas de Belgica | women’s choir (+/- 15 choir members)
Quatuor Satellite | Cléo Dahan: first violin, Margot Gillet: second violin, Coline Meulemans: alt violin, Marc Martin Nogueroles: cello
B’net Chaabi (3 musicians) | Kawtar Abdoune: percussion & vocals, Jamila Akhdim, percussion & vocals, Karima Arabi, ‘oud & vocals
Laïla Amezian: choir direction
For more info contact HalfmoOn asbl – halfmoon.asbl@gmail.com
Fatmas de Belgica is a project by HalfmOon asbl & MetX as part of Chaabi Habibi. With the support of de Vlaamse overheid voor Bovenlokale Cultuurprojecten, VGC Erfgoed, het Cultureel Samenwerkingsakkoord – l’accord de coopération culturelle Vlaamse Gemeenschap et la Communauté française, COCOF Service Culture-Musique and FWB – Un Futur pour la Culture.
Photos © Björn Comhaire
