In 1998, the alienesque Hoba Hoba Spirit emerged in the form of a duo from Casablanca. Vivacious, and void of airs and graces, they began playing music for no more than the amusement of close friends.
Réda, guitarist, singer-songwriter, collaborates with Aboubakr, percussionist and singer. Their style: rock, rai, gnawa (among others) amalgamated to become what was later christened ‘haiha attitude’, loosely translating as "priority to the festive."
This contagious virus seduced Aboubakr’s younger brother, one time bedroom guitarist, prompting him to fashion the dream team in 1999. Their debut concert was held at the Federation of Oeuvres Laiques, (FOL) a forum renowned for creativity, in Casablanca at the end of the same year. This was swiftly followed by a stream of concerts giving birth to the well known songs, “Bienvenue a Casa”, “La télé”, “Khoroto Connection”, “H’rig” and the emblematic cover of Nass El Ghiwane’s “Fine Ghadi Biya Khoya.” Réda’s lyrics stab with sparkling clarity with a a blend of both French and Derija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic.
Summer 2002, Adil (drums) and Amadou (bass) join the force to prove beyond doubt, a few months later at the FOL, that Hoba Hoba Spirit takes live music seriously, despite the departure of Aboubakr. Sensational success, confirmed by a subsequent booking for the famous Essaouira Gnawa Festival in 2003. A new epoch begins, the press explodes and Hoba Hoba Spirit is christened ‘the revelation of Essaouira 2003.’ The Album number one is an eponymous recording.
Oubiz is recruited to enhance the sound with percussion and voice, as is Saad who replaces Amadou on bass. Following the triumph of Essouira, the major cities of Morocco - Tangiers, Fes, Rabat, Agadir, Safi, El Jadidia and, of course, Casablanca, witness the Hoba Hoba Spirit explosion in 2003. The anxiety of Moroccan youth has never been expressed with such precision; conformity abandoned, the current generation is given an avenue in which to celebrate, and perhaps to forget. Or maybe it wasn’t that at all. Maybe it’s was just true Moroccan revelry Haiha Music: Without Borders The Haiha concept, understood in full, revolves around writing songs, not tracks. Singing as we speak, playing as we live.
The story continues into 2004 with Hoba Hoba Spirit playing the closing concert of the Boulevard of Young Musicans in Casablanca with Gnawa Diffusion. This is soon followed by the opening of the Essouira festival where Hoba Hoba Spirit supports the Wailers. The launch of the second album ‘Blad Skizo’ in 2005, reflects the experience of an generation subject to daily oppression. The penchant for rock is unmistakable. Through ‘El Kelb’, ‘Jamal’ and ‘Ma Ajebtinich’, the group stands up with a desire to express what the society experiences, no holds barred, shouldered by increasingly focused compositions. July 2005 sees Hoba Hoba Spirit selected to open the festival of Casablanca, welcomed by a colossal crowd of 40,000. “Bienvenue a Casa” proves itself as pertinent as ever; an unofficial hymn of the current Casablancan generation. The definitive moment of the year, however, comes with the winning of the silver medal at the Francophone Games in Niger, in December, 2005.
DISCOGRAPHY:
-1st Album : Hoba² Spirit(2004)
-2nd Album : Blad Schizo(2006)
-3rd Album : Trabondo (2007 )
-4th Album : El Gouddam (2008)
Official website
Enjoy !
Hoba's Back
Hoba Hoba Spirit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sma3na shih ou tferouih
el hadra koulha diha rih
ou hnaya hna mazal hnaya
haska chaddine el 3assa
slam slah raha
al wahda al moutanaqila al hobawiya
hazza raya dial al hayha al maghribiya
la tsewlouna 3la smiytna
hoba ghir kelma ma fiha ma3na
ghir tconcentra 3ala li mouraha
rouh errouh ya khouya
alors hoba hoba's back?!
dandani ana dana woudaniya
nmoute ana 3ala alhayha al maghribiya
l3abna 3iyanine ma na3ssinch lila
l3abna ka3yine sono khassra
l3abna saymine felberd ou chta
k3unna hanyine in3al bouha herfa
ma hebssouna la visa consulat
batterie 3awja corda naqssa
naqaba ji3ana ou zid khoutna el heggara
hite hoba raha famila
hegga nssina ahssen haja
semhoulina nssina akbar moufajaa
menni hezzina rasse ou ktachefna
ntouma mazal m3ana
alors hoba hoba's back?!
dandani ana dana woudaniya
nmoute ana 3la alhayha al maghribiya
On a découvert qu'on 3tait riche au Niger
On a découvert qu'on 3tait pauvre en Angleterre
évidement que je ne parle pas ici d'argent
Mais surtout de l'amour des gens
L'Europe parlons en
Pas excitant quand la plupart du temps
On évite de regarder son voisin on marche plus vite
Lorsque il vous tend la main
alors hoba hoba's back?!
dandani ana dana woudaniya
nmoute ana 3la alhayha al maghribiya
"hadi tebriha fi khater lehbab ou leshab ou wlidate l hoba sec"
The lyrics of Hoba Hoba Spirit's song "Hoba's Back" are a reflection on the band's journey and experiences. The opening lines urge the listener to listen closely and understand the singer's words. They then describe the atmosphere and emotions of being at a concert, where everyone is together and united. The lyrics mention the importance of love and community, as well as the band's pride in their Moroccan identity.
The song goes on to describe some of the challenges the band has faced, such as visa issues, and contrasts the different attitudes towards community between Morocco and Europe. The chorus repeats the phrase "Hoba's back" as a celebration of the band's return and success.
Overall, the lyrics are a combination of reflective and celebratory moments, emphasizing the importance of community and the band's pride in their Moroccan identity.
Line by Line Meaning
sma3na lemlih sma3na leqbih
Listen to the sweet sounds and listen to the strong ones
sma3na shih ou tferouih
Listen to the crooked and listen to the straight
el hadra koulha diha rih
The party is full of life and energy
ou hnaya hna mazal hnaya
Here we are, still here
haska chaddine el 3assa
Let's add some spice to life
slam slah raha
Peacefully keep moving forward
al wahda al moutanaqila al hobawiya
The united, rebellious love
hazza raya dial al hayha al maghribiya
The pride of Moroccan nostalgia
la tsewlouna 3la smiytna
Don't judge us by our name
hoba ghir kelma ma fiha ma3na
Hoba is just a word with no meaning
ghir tconcentra 3ala li mouraha
Just focus on what's important
rouh errouh ya khouya
Go with the flow, my brother
alors hoba hoba's back?!
So, Hoba Hoba's back?!
dandani ana dana woudaniya
I dance, it's my identity
nmoute ana 3ala alhayha al maghribiya
I die for the Moroccan way of life
l3abna 3iyanine ma na3ssinch lila
We played and sang all night
l3abna ka3yine sono khassra
We played hard and broke some strings
l3abna saymine felberd ou chta
We played jazz and rock
k3unna hanyine in3al bouha herfa
We were high on life and had some fun
ma hebssouna la visa consulat
We don't need a visa to be free
batterie 3awja corda naqssa
Drumming on the heartstrings
naqaba ji3ana ou zid khoutna el heggara
Our music transcends borders and unites wanderers
hite hoba raha famila
Hoba is still family
hegga nssina ahssen haja
Let's remember the good things
semhoulina nssina akbar moufajaa
Let's smile and aim big
menni hezzina rasse ou ktachefna
I cleared my head and we celebrated
ntouma mazal m3ana
You are still with us
On a découvert qu'on 3tait riche au Niger
We discovered we were rich in Niger
On a découvert qu'on 3tait pauvre en Angleterre
We discovered we were poor in England
évidement que je ne parle pas ici d'argent
Of course, I'm not talking about money here
Mais surtout de l'amour des gens
But especially about the love of people
L'Europe parlons en
Let's talk about Europe
Pas excitant quand la plupart du temps
Not exciting when most of the time
On évite de regarder son voisin on marche plus vite
We avoid looking at our neighbors and walk faster
Lorsque il vous tend la main
When they reach out their hand
hadi tebriha fi khater lehbab ou leshab ou wlidate l hoba sec
This is a tribute to friends and family and the dry land of Hoba
Contributed by Eli V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Abderrahman hafid
مو فقط البدو اقول لالاهم مرحبا
البدو قوم كوم نوض وصلتها لكاع المراجعين
افرينا افرينا
نبيل خليل نبغيك انا بمال .نظير ليه تمام ندير نذير
عيني عينك! يا دلعاادي فين الفاتيليا؟/ بتشديد الللام. اوفاتونر اوفانور بثلاث نقط فوق الفاء
سوبراطور
IS good
سير اياعتركو!
بتشديد التاء و فتحها
Saïd DAOUDI
THIS NEVER GETS OLD
آحمد الناصيري
نحن الآن بتاريخ 29 06 2023 لازلت استمع لهده المجموعة الأسطورية تحية خالصة من درب السلطان الفداء من درب الفقراء
Said Ait Said
08/09/2022 and HOBA HOBA SPIRIT are still the BEST ❤️❤️❤️
Mustapha Jouttane
💖💖💖
Youssef sakhi
Le 4 mars 2023
RataylTV
Nostalgia ❤❤❤
F B
Taaaanta ♥️
lyes0516
Machaalalh ! Cette fluidité dans le mélange des styles maghrébins et occidentaux, et tous les ponts, je suis Algérien, sans vouloir faire de zizanie, le répèrtoire de Gnawa Duffusion n'égale pas celui de Hoba Hoba Spirit par la diversité et la richesse, et Amazigh en solo est plutôt moyen, alors moi aussi "Nmout Ana 3al el Hayha Maghrebia" !"
biba boba
Молодцы!
mouad lafnoun
La belle époque 🥰 j'écoute ça en 2020