Morocco is a rich and diverse country with music that is now
reaching out to a wider audience. The women of Morocco have songs and poems
about each event of their life, rendered to the soulful beats of Sufi music. In
Goa for Sufi Sutra, an international festival of Sufi and Traditional Music
that will go on till February 4, 2015, it’s no surprise that the lobby of the
hotel where they are staying looks more like a concert arena with their singing
and playing of the Bendir (Daf) and taarejas.
Abarda Mohamed, the Artistic Director of Hadarrates
Souiriyattes, is proud of the music his country has to offer and is even
happier to showcase their true culture with the women taking centre stage.
Hadarrates Souiriyattes was formed as an association in Morocco in 2007 and the
all women group performs for festivals world over. “The name ‘Hadarrates’ has
been derived from the ceremony called Hadra (divine presence), a practice
common to the popular brotherhoods in Morocco, especially Aissaoua brotherhood,
Gnawa brotherhood and Hamadsha brotherhood. They convene for the ritual nights
called Hadra, which includes all the rites performed by families and
individuals, from baptism and circumcision, to marriage and death. The songs
would be sung from sunset to sunrise and has a therapeutic effect on the
singers as well as the listeners. The term ‘Souiriyattes’ is taken from the
name of the city, Essaouira, that the group members come from,” explains
Abarda.
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The social norm of their land is liberal towards women. The
members of this all-women team have regular jobs and take time out for practice
and performances. The women comprise members from all three brotherhoods and
they connect through music. The tradition of singing sufi songs is an oral
tradition passed down from generation to generation. The women realised its
value when they noticed that the younger generation were more inclined to world
music. Boumazzourh Latifa is a successful hotelier in Essaouira and the women
usually meet at her restaurant for practice sessions. “I am very happy when I
am singing Hadra as I get involved in the trance which takes me into another
world. It is a different feeling when you start singing. The songs are actually
litanies sung for invocation of the Lord and others are Sufi poems. We do not
compose our own songs and the Hadra comprises a repertory of nearly a hundred
songs,” explains Latifa.
The age group of the members range from 24 years to 60 years
and all have the same enthusiasm and enjoy travelling for their shows. After
the Goa performance, they will return to Morocco before heading to France for
their next performance.
As part of Sufi Sutra, the Hadarrates Souiriyattes will
perform at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Auditorium, Kala Academy, Campal-Panjim on
February 3, 2015 at 6.30 pm
