Fascinating in all its strength and audacity, this project brings to the forefront a vocal and musical tradition little known to the general public: that of the Ghanayats and Shikhats. Emblematic figures of traditional Moroccan culture, these artists were as much adored as despised and stigmatised. Their songs based on the art of Aïta (literally ‘call’ in Arabic) were practised as a means of transmitting a collective and sometimes revolutionary message. The Chaabi (lit. ‘popular’) became an urban style of popular and traditional songs specific to Morocco, practised during traditional celebrations and dedicated to dance.

To reinterpret extracts from these chaabi and traditional repertoires, Laïla surrounds herself with vocalists and top musicians from very different horizons, including some members of the Mâäk collective. In order to be as close as possible to the power and energy of these repertoires, the project also invites the female singer-percussionists from B’net Chaabi.

In March 2023 the group has released its first album on the Zephyrus label, followed by a tour in a.o. Flanders, Brussels and the Netherlands. Concerts can be combined with workshops led by Laïla and members of B’net Chaabi about the origins of chaabi music and the role of women in the (oral) transmission of traditional music.