WIDAD MJAMA & KHALIL EPI

(ma/tu/fr)

The artistic project AÏTA, led by Widad Mjama, emerged from her deep fascination with the Chikhates — the Moroccan singers and poets who uphold a tradition dating back to the 12th century. "Aïta mon amour", Widad's latest creation in collaboration with Khalil Epi, is an ambitious effort to bring this poetry from oblivion into the present and reintroduce traditional Moroccan art into the contemporary and digital era.

Widad Mjama, a graduate of the Conservatoire of Casablanca in classical dance and dramatic arts, first gained attention in 2001 as the first female rapper in Morocco to emerge prominently in the male-dominated underground scene of Casablanca, part of the hip-hop collective Thug Gang. By the mid-2000s, Widad expanded her academic and artistic horizons in France, where she obtained a master's degree in project engineering and deeply immersed herself in the African music scene.

In 2014, Widad co-founded the Franco-Moroccan band N3rdistan with her Thug Gang colleague Walid Ben Selim. The group, blending electro, ancestral sounds and hip-hop, achieved international success. In their latest project, "Aïta mon amour", Widad collaborates with Khalil Epi, a talented electronic producer and skilled player of the loutar and mandole, to delve deeper into her fascination with the Chikhates.

"Aïta mon amour" represents a dialogue between generations, where Widad creates a rich musical narrative from the poems and songs of the Aïta, navigating between tradition and modernity. The production remains true to the spirit and strength of its origins, offering a poignant journey through the history of the Chikhates, women whom Widad embodies with authenticity and passion.