Post 4: The Actual Origins of Rai Music
In 2016, Algeria made an application to the
UNESCO Intangible Heritage list to have Rai music included as ‘Algerian Folk
Music’. This sparked anger in Morocco who also announced that they planned to
apply UNESCO for the same recognition as they hold the International Festival
of Rai music in Oujda yearly. This rivalry between Morocco and Algeria has
occurred for many years, as shown by their constructing a wall on the
Northwestern border. Furthermore, Algeria is building the world’s third largest
mosque which is in direct competition with the Hassan II Grand Mosque in
Casablanca, Morocco.
On the origins of rai, Morocco does hold a claim
to rai music as their territory spread into the east into modern-day Algeria
before French colonization. While it is known that Bedouins began singing rai
in the deserts somewhere between both countries, the exact location is not
properly defined. However, as Oran, an Algerian city, gave the music more
direction and definition, it is pinpointed as the origin of rai. One of the examples
of the struggle over claiming rai is the story of Cheb Khaled, aka the “King of
Rai”. Even though he was born in Oran, Algeria, he was given Moroccan
citizenship by King Muhammad VI in 2013.
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| Cheb Khaled, The King of Rai |
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| Moroccan Folk Festival with Rai Music |
This is a very interesting take on perspective here; the cultural connection you make between Algeria and Morocco enhances my understanding of their already historically tense relationship. Their consistent diplomatic and cultural struggles reminds me of the Gulf Crisis of 2017 (still ongoing), in which several MENA countries ended diplomatic relations with Qatar. Did UNESCO grant Morocco's request to have rai music labeled "Moroccan Folk Music," since they did not do the same for Algeria?
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting blog post as it highlights and looks into something that I am not familiar with, the historical and modern context of Rai music. It is interesting to compare a controversy that is currently happening between Algeria and Morocco in music to something such as fashion, which I am doing my blog post on. I think you did a really good job at explaining how these two countries have been disputing over the origin of Rai, and how this has impacted their perspectives on the UNESCO Heritage list, something that I had never heard of. This was super interesting to read about, so very good job!:)
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