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
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Ida N'zour
Hoba Hoba Spirit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ida n'zour nebra
Ida n'zour nebra
Ya daouha aliya
Oua nemchiou l'Oujda
N'zourou dak el ouali
Sidi yahya Balek yerda aliya
Oullit berrani
Megouani ou techtani
Oullit berrani
Ida n'zour nebra
Ida n'zour nebra
Ida n'zour nebra
Ya daouha aliya
The lyrics of "Ida N'zour" by Hoba Hoba Spirit are full of cultural references and mystic verses. The song starts with the repetition of the phrase "Ida n'zour nebra," which can be translated as "If we crossed," indicating a journey, both physical and spiritual. The following lines describe the journey from the city of Oujda to the mountainous region of Al-Ouali. The singer talks about going to the saint's shrine of Sidi Yahya Balek to find guidance and blessings.
The chorus of the song is "Ya daouha aliya," which means "Oh, shining star of mine," indicating the singer's reverence for a higher power that guides him on his journey. The second verse shifts towards personal struggles and a search for meaning. The singer talks about feeling lost and looking for answers. He describes himself as "Megouani ou techtani," which can mean "confused and upset" or "lost and wandering." He seeks clarity and guidance to get back on track, as he sings "Oullit berrani," meaning "I voiced my suffering."
The song is a beautiful blend of traditional Moroccan music and rock influences, and the lyrics are a tribute to the Sufi mystic tradition. The spiritual undertones of the song urge the listener to connect with their inner self and seek guidance from a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
Ida n'zour nebra
If the sun rises
Ida n'zour nebra
If the sun rises
Ida n'zour nebra
If the sun rises
Ya daouha aliya
Oh, my shining star
Oua nemchiou l'Oujda
We'll go to Oujda
N'zourou dak el ouali
We'll wait until sunrise
Sidi yahya Balek yerda aliya
Saint Yahya will protect me
Megouani ou techtani
I wandered and I searched
Oullit berrani
I found happiness
Megouani ou techtani
I wandered and I searched
Oullit berrani
I found happiness
Ida n'zour nebra
If the sun rises
Ida n'zour nebra
If the sun rises
Ida n'zour nebra
If the sun rises
Ya daouha aliya
Oh, my shining star
Contributed by Blake V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.