Event Details
Date: Sunday, July 15, 2012
Start Time: 9:00 PM
Event Type: Concerts, Special Events
Last Updated: July 11, 2012
Views: 1
BerbanyaMatoub Louns, Cherif Kheddam, Idir There are plenty of artists who defend the cultural wealth of the Berbers. (It should be said that, in North Africa, it has often been marginalized and viewed as folkloric.) Berbanya is part of this current. Its festive music, shaking to the beat of an entire peoples pride, accompanies lyrics filled with commitment, defending language and traditions. Montral, July 2003. Seven musicians living here decide to pool their talents and found Anzar, spurred by Arezki Taleb. The seven musicians join their talents, experience and energy to disseminate music from their origins, straight from the Maghreb. Their goal: to get crowds dancing to the beats that lulled them throughout their childhoods.The group soon became Berbanya, from the word anya (rhythms) and berb, the beginning of Berber. Their watchword: to perform Kabyle musical styles from Algeria. Up on stage, the magic works. Melodies and rhythms from the countryside bring the audience on a distant journey, dancing, humming and forgetting everything, making it feel good to let loose to catchy melodies.Berbanya now has eight members. They are Khaled on vocals, Yacine Kedadouche on vocals and mandola, Ferhat Achour on vocals and guitar, Zahir Kaci on keyboard, Hakim Chrif on percussions, Fateh Talbi on bass, Nassim Amrouche on saxophone and Zellat Athmane on drums.Since it was formed, Berbanya has taken part in many festivals across Qubec, among them the Festival des Rythmes du Monde de Fleurimont (2004), Festival des musique du Maghreb (2004-2007), Nuits dAfrique (2005), Festival des Transarts Africains Tumbuktu (2005, 2007) Festival international des rythmes du monde du Saguenay (2008), and Nuits dAfrique 2010.Their pieces are partly classics of Algerian Berber music, partly new compositions. But the aim is always to defend a culture that, for a long time, has often been underrated or marginalized. In addition to their shows, they are currently working on producing their first album.