SAÏD MESNAOUI | Album Al Maddloum (The Oppressed)

Disques Nuits d’Afrique is pleased to announce the release of Al Maddloum (The Oppressed), SAÏD MESNAOUI new album, available on all digital platforms since April 7, 2023.

AL MADDLOUM (THE OPPRESSED)

Under the ochre lights, a voice undulates, the rhythm is rigorous, the modernity slides on the endless sands of the desert. The ancestral music of the Gnawa, sublimated by the hajhouj, with a deep and melodious sound, bewitches us, supported by hypnotic percussions until it gets lost in the fire of the dance.  

Musician of Moroccan origin, Saïd Mesnaoui draws his inspiration from the very sources of tradition. The soul of this music being closely linked to rhythm, he never stops reinventing it. He explores these ancient rhythms and modernizes them. With his new album, Al Maddloum, where the magic of Moroccan rhythms (ghiwane, gnawa), a rock tempo, reggae, blues, jazz pulsations which under the effect of the gnawa trance harmonize, Saïd offers us a frenetic atmosphere where the Gnawa rhythms spout out with force and energy. 

With Al Maddloum, the state of trance is synonymous with a state of consciousness and is in resonance with all the current problems of the planet. With this new opus, the artist wants to pay tribute to all oppressed people in search of dignity and freedom and wants to communicate Peace and Hope through his music.

TRACK LIST

1. AL MADDLOUM (L’OPPRIMÉ / THE OPPRESSED)

2. ZADE ALHAM (PEINE ACCRUE / INCREASED PAIN)

3. RÉSISTE PALESTINE (PALESTINE RESIST)

4. L’GNAOUI (INTRO)

5. L’GNAOUI

6. HAMMOUDA (L’HOMME / MAN)

7. HADE ZEMANE (INTRO)

8. HADE ZEMANE (NOTRE ÉPOQUE / OUR TIME)

9. MAHMOUMA (TOURMENTÉE / GLOOMY LIFE)

10. FIK-ANTA (RÉVEILLE-TOI / WAKE UP) (INTRO) 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

SAÏD MESNAOUI

Coming from a background where there are many musicians, it is in the respect of the tradition that Saïd Mesnaoui evolves, from childhood, by initiating himself to percussions. His musical journey led him to a Gnawa master who taught him the technique of the hajhouj, a typical instrument of Gnawa music from southern Morocco.

In 1974, Saïd started his career and formed the group Al Aânadile with which he participated in various Moroccan concerts and events.

In the 80’s, as a guest of the group Jil el Ghiwane, Said undertook tours in North Africa and the Middle East. Together, they bring Moroccan culture to life and make it known. Tunisia, Syria and Libya give, in turn, the group a certificate of honor for the excellence of their artistic work. For almost four years, the group has been working with the Ministry of Culture in Tunisia. During the great festival of Carthage (1983), the group obtains a special mention.

Then in 1986, Said moved to Canada. During this period, he produces three albums. With his new group Saïd Mesnaoui & Transe Gnawa Fusion he is invited to many festivals across Canada and is present at various events and concerts. His music approaches a new shore and is colored by Western influences, it occurs then a fusion between the hypnotic rhythms of the Gnawa trance and various styles, which confers to the music of Saïd a lighter trance.

In 1998, Saïd moved to Paris. In this movement, he is in search of a new universe. He pursues his career with French musicians. He works on a new album where the magic of Moroccan rhythms (Ghiwane, Sahraoui, Berber and Gnawa), a rock tempo, reggae, blues, jazz pulsations which under the effect of the Gnawa trance are harmonized.

The artist will be back in Canada in 2008 to produce his new album Fik-Anta (Réveille-toi). The result of a collaboration with his French and Quebec musicians. From now on, his career continues between Canada, France and Morocco. 

Al Maddloum (The Oppressed), his new album will be available worldwide on April 7th and Said will perform on the stage of the prestigious International Festival Nuits d’Afrique on July 15th 2023.