IWA Festival is born, as an exponent of the Amazigh culture in Melilla

Iwa Festivalis an event that seeks to promote the projection and dissemination of the Amazigh culture in Melilla and in the world, as well as revitalize their language and cultural values. Celebrate the cultural diversity of Melilla, creating a space for artistic dissemination. An international meeting with a heterogeneous representation of artistic projects and initiatives from the different territories that make up the Amazigh or Tamazgha Country.

The Amazigh Country It is a territory that encompasses numerous countries in North Africa: from the Siwa Oasis in Egypt to the Canary Islands, passing through Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mali, Niger and the Spanish city of Melilla. Each of these places offers a surprising wealth of nuances in their Amazigh cultural heritage, both in terms of their customs and in their language variant, in the case of Melilla the Tamazight tarifit; the rifian language. This confluence gives rise to a mosaic of differences and similarities; local and international links of common features between the different countries and tribes that make up the Amazigh culture.

Iwa Festival born with a specific objective, the construction of a cultural event with the Amazigh legacy as a foundation, and that at the same time can enhance the concept of diversity of the city of Melilla. A new alternative framework in the field of creation, and diffusion of a renewed tradition, with the contributions of the new generations together with traditional culture.

First Iwa Fest Bands

A absolutely ecl posterandctic where the fusion of styles prevails as a common characteristic, such as the Franco-Moroccan group Bab L‘blue. A formation that is reaping a great impact with its first record work. The fusion of Gnawa music with the Berber resonances of the Moroccan Atlas, with touches of funk and psychedelic rock is the key to their sound. Fascinating and hypnotic rhythms that are already known as the “acid blues of the Maghreb”.

Jubantouja also joins Iwa Fest. A collective that was born in the mountains of the High Atlas. Alternative indie rock weaves in that experiments with traditional components. Jubantouja exposes in his lyrics the social problems in the struggle to achieve basic linguistic rights and the recognition of the Amazigh identity in North Africa.

Also born in the High Atlas,Tasuta N-Imal is a band whose name means “Future Generation”. Finding inspiration for their songs in poetry, with a deep look into the suffering of desert nomads, music with values ​​of tolerance, love, peace and resistance show the world their culture.

Electronics is not lacking in the first edition of Iwa, Abderrahman Elhafid AKA Mr. ID made a long international pilgrimage, delving into the American rap sound and the spirituality of jazz and funk rhythms. An influence that allowed him to rediscover the magic of African music, where rhythms are mixed with delicious violin airs, percussion and voices from a distant era in which the Atlas Mountains are still witnesses.

amine k Most of Amine’s output features odes to his African roots, however his music is influenced by Danny Tenaglia, Deep Dish, Erick Morillo, Nick Warren and even BB King. In 2019 she debuted at Boiler Room Dubai making stops with her Moroko Loko parties in Montreal, Tokyo, Paris and Berlin, introducing African music influences all over the world.

Azu Tiwaline is a production company inspired by the need to explore its origins rooted in the Tunisian Sahara. Uniting the bonds of Berber music, dub culture and techno hypnosis, Tiwaline invites us to refocus on our senses and our nature. He knows how to use the contrasts between light and the unfathomable, exploring the complexity of our emotions and the mystery that emanates from them.

Barcelona is the setting that has seen the evolution of Ikram Boulouma versatile artist of Rif origin. Her first EP, released in 2021, ‘Ha-bb5’ reinterprets in a personal way in 5 tracks the popular musical and dance aesthetics of the Maghreb, tinged with an innovative and also feminist character where she sings in her mother tongue, Tamazight tarifit , Catalan and English.

Agraf Band, the woman in the Rif is placed in the foreground within the group’s compositions: Through its lyrics and sounds, Agraf Band spreads a message of freedom, democracy and peace, alluding to love for the land and the sea. A music that combines the traditional with the modern and contributes to spreading the Amazigh culture. Using popular hymns, jazz classics and his own creations, Naima Mohatar The Amazigh singer born in Melilla connects the roots of the Rif people with Afro-American history, in songs that speak of shared themes such as women, freedom, faith and love.

Pigeon Colombe, from San Francisco, where she discovered a radical music scene during her film studies, to her mother’s Algeria, where she developed the contours of her artistic project, Paloma Colombe creates bridges between cultures and builds a powerful, committed musical narrative and without concessions. She has set fire to the stages of the biggest French festivals, Eurockéennes, Transmusicales, Nouvelles Scènes, Rio Loco… and she has no intention of stopping.