Nahla Ink Online Journal

DzFest returns to celebrate Algerian contemporary culture and Raï music in London; with an electric new edition that will take you back to the zenith of Algerian contemporary culture in an unforgettable celebration of this rich heritage.

The programme is divided into the following units, taking place at various venues, from 14-29 September, 2024.

ARTS FOR ALL: The soft opening event In collaboration with PACT “The Professional Algerian connections & talent network in the UK, bringing an interactive workshop for aspiring artists and art practitioners. You can discover strategies for engaging in the arts scene and securing funding for your events and small business. Followed by a networking session with like-minded individuals, professionals & artists and lots of Algerian sweets & refreshments.

THE ART FEST: The UK’s inaugural event of its kind and a mini festival in its own right, featuring various artists and a many art forms. Explore the unexplored facets of Algeria. Creations, exhibitions, fashion walks, workshops, performances, film, DJ, talks and family & kid’s activities!

TiziFun: A traditional Algerian Kabyle flavour with TiziFun. Algerian Amazigh tunes to get you dancing and singing along! A great Algerian, London-based band brimming with Algerian rhythms and good vibes! fun for the whole family.

BLED MUSIQUE: An interactive session exploring the best of the best of Algerian tunes through music videos from the 90s & early 2000s. Taking you back to the zenith of Algerian music, launch of Rai into the world stage and the inception of the Algerian pop culture! The audience will be guided through an interactive & reflective journey, engaging in playful exercises and lively conversations.

CINEMA: Screening of A little for my heart and a little for my God: A much acclaimed documentary by Swedish film director Brita Landoff. This never-seen film explores the hidden facets of rai music and the female art of Maddahat and the Algerian  fringe culture in the backdrop of the inception of the black decade.  Landoff fought to ensure this film remained unseen to protect the protagonists who trusted her. Eyeopener!

DANCE WORKSHOPS: Bringing back Algerian dances, this time to London & Liverpool. Explore four types of Algerian folk dances with dance artist Hayet AMAR, specializing in North African traditional dance forms. Discover Chaoui /Naili and Kabyle/Allaoui dances and Rhythms. In collaboration with Liverpool Arab Arts Festival.

Lyne GUESSOUM: A phenomenal vocalist and singer, who performs in Kabyle and Arabic. Lyne is a London-based Algerian singer, born in the white city of Algiers, but originally from the mountains of Kabylie. Growing up, she was always surrounded by artists, including her father who is from the same village as the late great IDIR. Lyne will open the evening with some of Idir’s best tunes. A great opening performance for this rising star!

SINGING WORKSHOP: Dive into the world of Andalusi classical music, a genre that traces its origins back to El-Andalus in southern Spain and has since anchored roots in North Africa and especially Algeria, as our classical music.Singing workshop led by music virtuoso Yaz Fentazi.

SAND ROSES: Explore Algerian literature, in conversation with prize-winning author Hamza KOUDRI with his latest book “Sand Roses”. A tale of resistance, sisterhood and the shameful past of two colliding nations. This extraordinarily immersive narrative thrusts its reader into the Algerian city of Bou Sâada during the 1930s & into the story of the Naili dancers.

RAÏNA RAÏ: The Beatles of Algeria. founded in the 80s by four musicians from Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, the birthplace of Raï music. Their style mixes Raï, rock and Diwane, it merges traditional rhythms and with rock instruments. Considered a pioneer of modern Raï sometimes called “electric Raï”. Their most celebrated hits which are still widely successful with the younger and older generations include “Ya Zina”, “Til Taila”, or “Hagda”.

For more: https://culturama.co.uk/dzfest-2024-1

The Palestinian musical collective formed in Jordan in 2013 taking influence from hip-hop, electronica, and R&B and melding it with the sounds of Dabke, a traditional folk dance, and other Shaa’bi roots music from the Levantine region.

Tickets: https://koko.seetickets.com/event/47-soul-live-in-london/koko/2996297