From 24 November till 5 December, you can meet up at various locations to enjoy concerts, film projections and other activities dedicated to the musical heritage of chaabi. To name but a few: the polyphonic encounter Chœurs En Trance at Espace Magh, a workshop about music, dance & transformation at MetX and the festive finale Habibi Connection with Think of One, Laïla Amezian, B’net Chaabi and Kabareh Cheikhats at KVS.

 

The festival is part of the Chaabi Habibi project, launched in 2019 by HalfmOon asbl to highlight the role of women from the Moroccan diaspora in Belgium in transmitting the chaabi musical heritage. From the start, the project focuses on research, transmission and artistic creation. All these activities take different forms and are developed thanks to various partnerships throughout the country.

 

Chaabi literally means “popular” and is an urban version of traditional Moroccan folk songs, performed at folk festivals and dedicated to dance. Chaabi Habibi is also a tribute to the Ghanayats and Shikhats, women musicians who spoke out for freedom in Morocco in the 19th century.

 

PROGRAM

 

24/11 Chœurs En Trance @ Espace Magh

Polyphonic encounter between the choirs Fatmas de Belgica, Bab’Zouz, Le Chœur Essaouira Magador & Noujoum Souria.

 

25-27/11 Alala Yellali @ ULB

International symposium on “Women, musical genre and gender identities in chaabi music from Morocco to the diasporas”

 

27/11 B’net Chaabi Orkestra @ VK

Baraka Sounds go chaabi: concert & couscous

 

28/11 Kabareh to Cabaret @ Chez Maman

Musical spectacle

 

30/11-4/12 Cinema Habibi @ Cinemamed

Fiction & documentaries

 

30/11 Ateliers Nomades @ MetX

Workshop about music, dance & transformation with Kabareh Cheikhats & Soumaya MaRose

 

30/11 Mehdiya Sultana @ Palace

Chaabi & Raï concert as part of Cinemamed

 

5/12 Chaabi Connection @ KVS

Collectif concert as part of 60 years of Moroccan immigration with Think of One, Laïla Amezian, B’net Chaabi and Kabareh Cheikhats.

 

Chaabi Habibi Festival is organised by HalfmOon asbl & Darna in partnership with MetX, Empact, w-Art, ULB, FNRS, Espace Magh, VK, Chez Maman, Cinemamed, Muziekpublique, AB & KVS. With the support of Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Equal, A nous l’Histoire and VGC Erfgoedcel.