Fatmas de Belgica

Laïla drew on the chaabi tradition to develop her own original repertoire. Building on traditional elements such as lament, poetry in the Moroccan Darrija dialect and trance-like rhythms, she added Western vocal elements to create a contemporary version.

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Fatmas de Belgica | women’s choir  (+/- 15 members)

B’net Chaabi (4 musicians) | Souhaila Riahi: vocals, Mehdiya Sultana: keyboard, Kawtar Abdoune: percussion & vocals, Jamila Akhdim: percussion & vocals

Laïla Amezian: choir direction

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!

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Fatmas de Belgica | women’s choir

Quatuor Satellite | Cléo Dahan: first violin, Margot Gillet: second violin, Coline Meulemans: alt violin, Marc Martin Nogueroles: cello

B’net Chaabi | Kawtar Abdoune: percussion & vocals, Jamila Akhdim, percussion & vocals, Karima Arabi, oud & vocals

Laïla Amezian: choir direction

 Laïla brought the Fatmas together with the Gnawa musicians of Karkaba, led by mâalem Driss Filali and Mohamed Saïd Akasri. An unlikely exchange between trance rhythms interwoven with ancestral incantations on the one hand, and melodious, intoxicating voices that echo them harmoniously on the other.

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Fatmas de Belgica | women’s choir

Driss Filali: guembri & vocals | Mohamed Saïd Akasri: percussion & vocals

Karkaba: percussion & vocals

Laïla Amezian, choir direction

Fatmas de Belgica was 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.