DARAA TRIBES Tribal Fusion & Saharan Blues (MA)

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Line-up

Rachid Berazougui | Electric guitar, vocals
Playing For Change (Live Outside); international festival circuits (EU/UK/NA)

Mustapha Aqermim | Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Collective songwriting; linguistic/organizational bridge in international collaborations

Abdelkebir Saadi | Bass, backing vocals
Grounding rhythm section between Regaga and desert‑blues groove; full‑band live set

Abdelhafid “Hafid” Ami | Percussion (cajón/krakebs), backing vocals
Polyrhythms and ritual patterns (Lkaaba) integrated into an electric set

Balkhir Razgui | Vocals, percussion (founder, in memoriam)
Founding voice of the project (2014–2024)

Style

Tribal Fusion and Saharan Blues from the palm groves of Tagounite: desert‑guitar riffs, trance percussion and call‑and‑response that turn the stage into a shared rite.

Profile

Daraa Tribes formed in 2014 in Tagounite, an oasis town in Morocco’s Draa Valley: a group of friends from different tribes translating their home’s coexistence into sound. Their “blues of the desert” intertwines Gnawa, Sahraoui, Amazigh and Regaga idioms into a contemporary language—dry, hypnotic electric guitars, a pulsing bass, polyrhythmic percussion and multilingual chorus lines (Darija, Tamazight, Hassani). On stage the band builds by accumulation: circular grooves, minimal variation and tight interplay that draws the audience into a collective dance. After consolidating an international trajectory across festivals and clubs, Daraa Tribes have just wrapped up a UK mini‑tour (Bristol–London–Manchester), reaffirming the project’s high‑intensity live dimension.

Details

• Rachid Berazougui writes and sings part of the repertoire with a desert‑tone electric guitar that leads the set’s hypnosis. (“Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of sound that is the heartbeat of Daraa Tribes.” Playing For Change, 2025-04-01)

• Mustapha Aqermim is a rhythmic and narrative engine: the band’s identity grew “in a circle,” without hierarchy, from sharing traditions. (“We didn’t plan to start a band. We just started playing together…” Matt Ross, Arab News, 2020-08-16)

• UK mini‑tour (just concluded): Jam Jar (Bristol, 2026-01-03), Hootananny (Brixton, 2026-01-07), Band on the Wall (Manchester, 2026-01-11).

• Sound imprint: desert‑guitar groove with a Gnawa edge—a writing approach that stays danceable even at its most ritual. (“…incorporate their Moroccan roots into a lilting groove… the edge of the North African Gnawa sounds.” Tony Benjamin, Bristol24/7, 2026-01-02)

Discography

Alwan (EP, 2017)
Igharman (LP, 2018)
Zamane (EP, 2019)
Lakbayl (single, 2021)
Sahara (single, 2022)
Torat Vol. 1 (EP, 2024)

Quotes

“…incorporate their Moroccan roots into a lilting groove… the edge of the North African Gnawa sounds.”

Tony Benjamin, Bristol 24/7, 2026-01-02) — https://www.bristol247.com/culture/music/bristols-month-in-world-music-january-2026/

“We are delighted to welcome back Daraa Tribes as the celebratory closing act of our first digital festival.”

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, 2020-07-18) — https://www.arabartsfestival.com/events/daraa-tribes/

“The track… fusing ancient rhythms with contemporary flair… offering listeners a sonic journey.”

Last Day Deaf, 2024-02-02 — https://lastdaydeaf.com/listening-now-daraa-tribes-bshara/

Reviews / articles / profiles

Profiles & bio

Come together: Daraa Tribes deliver unity through music — Arab News — Matt Ross — 2020-08-16 — https://www.arabnews.com/node/1720261/lifestyle
Daraa Tribes (profile) — ProfileAbility — 2022-05-14 — https://profileability.com/daraa-tribes/
Listening Now: Daraa Tribes – Bshara — Last Day Deaf — 2024-02-02 — https://lastdaydeaf.com/listening-now-daraa-tribes-bshara/
Daraa Tribes (digital event) — Liverpool Arab Arts Festival — 2020-07-18 — https://www.arabartsfestival.com/events/daraa-tribes/
Lakhlag | Rachid Berazougui | Live Outside (Member Exclusive) — Playing For Change — (author not indicated) — 2025-04-01 — https://playingforchange.com/videos/daraa-tribes-rachid-berazougui-live-outside-member-exclusive