Professor Belaid El Akkaf is a well known Amazigh musicologist who works both as a researcher and musician at the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture. Professor El Akkaf undertakes a whole range of other activities. He is a harmony professor at the National Conservatoire for Music and Dancing in Rabat. He is also the Artistic Director of the National Council of Music in Morocco. Professor El Akkaf composed a considerable range of film music recordings and was involved in an important number of music festivals and concerts all over the world. For his brilliant contribution to music both Morocco wise and world wise, he has received many awards such as the World Popular Song Festival Award in Tokyo, Japan; Arthur Honnegger International Prize in Dublin, Ireland; Al Farabi Prize by the National Council for Music and UNESCO, Morocco among others.

Abstract of Belaid El Akkaf's Presentation:

Aspects of Amazigh Music

This presentation will invite the audience into the magnificent, mysterious, and thrilling world of Amazigh music.  Traditional Amazigh music is split into three varieties - Tarifiyt, Tamazight and Tashlhiyt.  In all of these types of traditional Amazigh music today, one can see an increasing influence by Western music due to globalization and its accompanying sociocultural changes.  In its current state, traditional Amazigh music bears a fundamental cultural originality while at the same time reflecting a more universal nature.  The core theme of this presentation will be to explore the unique features of Amazigh musical art along with its diversity and richness.  The audience will have the opportunity sample selections of this music.