Jajouka And The Attars
The Master Musicians of Jajouka are from the village of Jajouka, or Joujouka, which is located in Northern Morocco in the Rif Mountains and their tradition of music is passed down, in a supposedly unbroken line, going back 4000 years. They are part of a family called Attar (a name meaning perfume maker). The music itself is considered to be of the Sufi tradition of Islam and, prior to the colonizations of Morroco by France and Spain, the Attars were the royal musicians of the sultans. Tradition had it that because the music was so powerful, special and so very unique, the Attars never had to herd goats or engage in any other activity, agricultural or otherwise, outside of their particular occupation of living and continuing that musical tradition.
Music And Instruments
Passed on from elder to child, this is a unique and very complex form of reed and percussion pipe music that relies on drones, improvisation and complex rhythms which is Jajouka-specific.
The flute is called the lira and is considered the oldest instrument in Jajouka. double-reed is called the ghaita. The drum is called the tebel and is made of goat skin played with two wood sticks. There is also another goat skin drum called the tarija which allows for more fast-paced virtuosity. There is also a stringed instrument called the gimbri, which is popular throughout Morocco.
There are similar musical traditions all over Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and also parts of Europe, like Yugoslavia and parts of the UK and Ireland but the Jajouka music really does stand apart, sounding and feeling very separate. However, no one but the Attars can learn this music and it's impossible to transcribe. Its divine power to heal is a blessing, a baraka, and cannot be adequately translated into words. The music heals some and sends others into a trance state and, in many cases, heals and sends.
The Importance Of The Beat Generation
Via Brion Gysin and Paul Bowles in the early fifties to the Beat Generation this music came to the West. William S. Burroughs described the music as the oldest on earth and called the players a 4000-year-old rock band.
Brian Jones
In 1968, Brian Jones, of the Rolling Stones recorded several hours of a performance while he was in Morroco, brought there by Gysin. This was released posthumously as Brian Jones Presents The Pan Pipes Of Jajouka, in 1971. Western interest in the music was revived again in the nineties, the Brian Jones record, so long unavailable on vinyl, was reissued in CD format, in 1997. The Attars also recorded with the Stones, in 1989, on the Steel Wheels record.
Genesis P-Orridge
In 1999, on May 1, they appeared with Psychic TV in London at an event organized by Genesis P-Orridge. Although people like William, Brion, Brian and Genesis are most defintely infidels in city Islam, these are people loved very much by Jajouka for their understanding and their bringing this music to the world and thus, perhaps, making it live longer.
Pan And Bou Jeloud
The connection to Pan comes from thousands of years ago when the half-goat half-man being named Bou Jeloud appeared to Attar in a cave, dancing in a trance to the Attar horn. Every year, a boy dressed as Bou Jeloud dances in a frenzy to the Attars in a festival, which ensures good health for the coming year. This festival music progresses to different levels of consciousness, varying in intensity and revelation with each level.
Duty Now For The Future
The Attars have toured much and collaborated with many other musicians from the West since 1980, including DJ Cheb I Sabbah, Talvin Singh, Ornette Coleman and Bill Laswell, with many releases coming out on his Axiom label.
Bacchir Attar has also done solo work.
Unfortunately, their unique tradition is on the verge of a sad death and despite the well meaning musicians who have done their best to spread the word in the West, it is in bad need of patronage. Again, the Attars' power to heal is baraka, or a gift from Allah and mustn't stop.
What the future of the tradition is it is difficult to know because there is no one to pass it on to. Societal constraints have forced the younger Attars to find a living in normal society and make money.
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