Rabat – Omar and the Eastern Power band is a strong example of music, crossing borders in ways that words sometimes cannot.
Based in South Korea, the band brings together musicians from Morocco, Egypt, and Korea, mixing North African rhythms and Sahelian music with Afrobeat, dub, desert blues, psychedelic rock, and elements of Korean music to create a distinctive cross-cultural sound.
The band was formed in 2016 after Moroccan musician Omar Benassila and Egyptian drummer Zaky Wael met in Korea and began developing music together.
Korean guitarist Oh Jinwoo and bassist Tehiun later joined the group, expanding its sound and helping shape what would become a multicultural musical project.
Rather than limiting itself to a single genre, Omar and the Eastern Power describes its approach as a broad world-music perspective.
Their songs combine African grooves with elements of dub, funk, folk, reggae, psychedelic music, and rock, creating a sound that moves between traditional influences and contemporary experimentation.
At the heart of the project is Omar Benassila, a Moroccan musician who has built much of his musical career in South Korea.
His journey across cultures has become an important part of the band’s identity, with the group’s music reflecting different experiences, places, and musical traditions.
The band’s first album, “Walking Miles,” was released in 2018. The record introduced listeners to the group’s fusion of North African grooves, Sahelian influences, Afrobeat, and other global sounds.
Tracks such as “Walking Miles,” “City of Cranes,” “Houria \Freedom,” and “No Man’s Land” helped establish the band’s distinctive musical direction.
The group’s later releases continued to explore that sound. In 2021, they released “Sunshine” and “Htalen.” The band’s music also reflects the idea that cultural differences do not necessarily need to be separated into distinct categories.
Instead, Omar and the Eastern Power uses those differences as part of their creative process, bringing together sounds and experiences from Africa and Asia.
The group has continued to build an international presence, performing in South Korea and appearing at major music events.
In 2025, they performed at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival before traveling to Morocco for Visa For Music in Rabat.
Now, the band is set to add another chapter to its musical journey with the release of its new EP, “Lil El Bouhala,” on August 12.
