Imaran (Touareg/Algeria)
Masha’el Falesteen (Palestina)

Friday 27 March 2010, 20.00, Molière, Galerie de la Porte de Namur, 3 Square du Bastion, 1050 Brussels

The Tamasheqs (Touareg) from Imaran are orginally from Djanet, an oasis in the ancient region of Tassili n’Ajjer. The people of Imaran are the Kel Touat, a people known for its multiple pilgrimages. In principle, the Oud is not an instrument used by the Touaregs. However through the years, as the work of Baly Othmani illustrates, it has acquired a more and more central position. The group is directed by the Oud player Malek Chkali, another particularity of Imaran. Traditional and politically-engaged songs are played with the violin, percussion and songs, accompanied by laments danced by men.
Masha'el Falesteen is a traditional dance group from Nablus specialised in the Dabkah, a traditional folk dance from the Arabic Maschreq (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq) and from some Bedouin tribes living on Lebanese and neighbouring soils. The main characteristics of the dance is that the dancers – who hold each other by the arms - line up in the form of a circle’s arc and hammer the ground with their feet (mainly the left one). One can see this dance at weddings and also at certain contests in Palestine.

Admission:
Members: free
Non-members: 10 Euros
We accept cultuurwaardebons and article 27