Rabat – In just three days, the Amazigh artistic community in Morocco lost two of its greatest artists; singers Salah Al-Basha and Bannasser Oukhoya. Both were legends who preserved and innovated Amazigh musical heritage for decades.
Both men were towering pillars of Amazigh Culture, dedicating decades to preserving and innovating its rich musical heritage.
Al-Basha, The Poetic Voice of Ahwach (traditional Amazigh music,) celebrated for his deeply poetic lyrics and unique musicality, was a master of the genre.
His rich repertoire captured the soul of the Souss region and became synonymous with Amazigh cultural identity.He left behind a legacy of songs cherished across generations.
The Soulful Sound of the Atlas, Oukhoya, stood as a cornerstone of the distinctive Atlas Mountain musical tradition.
Renowned for his captivating, gentle voice and authentic melodies, his music resonated deeply throughout Tamazgha (the broader Amazigh cultural sphere,) becoming a constant companion to lovers of native arts of the region.
The news has sent waves of grief through Morocco’s cultural landscape. The Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, expressed the nation’s sorrow, extending deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of both artists, as well as to the wider community of Moroccan artists and intellectuals.
