Reggada

Reggada is a Moroccan Berber musical genre and traditional war dance from Beni Znassen/Aït Iznasen tribes of north-east Morocco (Provinces of Oujda, Berkane and Taourirt).

Reggada
Reggada dance in Aknoul
Native name	الرڭادة
Other names	3arfa
Stylistic origins	Moroccan music
Cultural origins	Beni Znassen tribes Morocco
Typical instruments	Traditional instruments Adjounn, Tamja, Galal, Ghaita, Zamar and modern: synthesizer
Other topics
Moroccan music

It is very similar to the Allaoui musical genre, that arose around the same time as Reggada.

History

Reggada is part of war dance traditions among Aït Iznasen Berber tribes celebrating victory over their enemies. Thus, the performance includes the use of weapons and foot strikes in the rhythm of music.

Location

Reggada music is most commonly played in the northeastern regions of Morocco, especially in the city of Aïn Regadda in the Berkane Province. It's also popular in provinces such as Oujda, Taourirt, Nador, Al Hoceima, Taza, and Ben Taieb.

Dance and music

The dance is characterised with the masters (locally called sheikhs). These masters play music and dance using several traditional instruments such as Bendri, Ghaita and Zmmar which is a kind of flute with two horns typically found in Africa. The dancers move their shoulders, a rifle or a stick and strike the groin against the floor to the rhythm of drums.

The music often tells stories about topics such as love, emotions of sadness and happiness. From the late 1980s, music synthesizer are increasingly widely used.