Celebrating Haja El Hamdaouia

Google Dooles 28.10.2022 03:00  Date: October 28, 2022 Today’s Doodle celebrates Moroccan singer and cultural icon Haja El Hamdaouia. The star of Moroccan chaabi music influenced multiple generations of artists with her innovative style. Haja was born in 1930 in Casablanca, Morocco. Her father loved musicians and often hosted music troupes at their home. This inspired Haja to take theater classes where she learned how to sing and perform chaabi music, a genre that fuses urban and rural Moroccan folk music. In the early 1950s, she developed an interest in El Aita al Marsaouiya, a sub-genre of chaabi music characterized by poetic lyrics and blues-like melodies. Haja breathed new life into the genre. With her piercing and powerful voice, Haja sang about everything from national independence to daily life. She wasn't afraid to push boundaries as seen in 1959 when Haja had the idea to sing in front of a makeshift orchestra. She performed at cabaret venues in Casablanca neighborhoods backed by a saxophone, organ, guitar, drums and violin. During this time, she created some of her most popular songs like “Daba Yij” and “Jiti Majiti", which took on the subjects of femininity and love. Haja continued to create and perform music for over 60 years. She headlined at festivals in Essaouira and Oujda until the late 2000s. Find her music on streaming platforms and in music stores around the world. Thank you, Haja El Hamdaouia, for singing your heart out time and time again. Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags: