McLean, VA / Morocco Board News– It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of the great artist, and my friend, Mohamed Rouicha. As I mourn this big loss, I feel compelled to write about Rouicha, the man I knew – not just the star. I was always a big fan of Rouicha, but when I met him few years ago, and spent a couple of days listing to him sing and talk about different subjects, I become a super fan. I was struck by his courtesy, eloquence, and deep cultural knowledge. Mohamed Rouicha was one of the most famous folk singers in Morocco for the last 40 years. His warm voice, music, and unique lyrics spoke of daily Moroccan life, love, family, roots, and reckoning. Rouicha was also a specialist in the traditional Amazigh instrument called Lwttar or watara, which is a traditional Moroccan instrument resembling a sort of Oud, but with a more rustic look and sound. Rouicha actually referred to it as “Aghanja” (the “ladle” in Amazigh)
Rouicha was only 14 years old when he recorded his first album for the Moroccan National Radio and Television Station. He went on to gain national and international fame as an interpreter of songs in Amazigh and Arabic. Rouicha was very prolific singer and songwriter, alternating between Arabic and Amazigh with finesse and success. Unlike other artists, he understood early in his career the duality of the Moroccan. I know for sure that different generations of music lovers will not soon forget his captivating tunes like “wa ayad ababa” or his latest hit, “Iness Iness”
I collected Rouicha’s cassette tapes and CDs for years. I also learned and memorized many of his songs (Arabic and Amazigh). I just loved his lyrics and music. When my son was a baby, my wife and I discovered
by accident that Rouicha’s music calmed him down when he was colicky. One day, I was enjoying listening to some timadiassines (a particular song form) of the maestro, when my son woke up. I went to his room, picked him up, and brought him to the living room. He was happy and relaxed, but when the music stopped, he started crying suddenly. I reached out to the tape player and pulled the tape out to flip it onto the other side. As soon as the music of Rouicha started playing, the baby calmed down and started smiling again. At the end of the tape, he then started to cry again. That is when I understood the effect of Rouicha’s music on calming my boy. My wife and I then made a habit of having Rouicha’s music with us in the car, and wherever we went with our baby.
Years later, when I met Rouicha in person a few years ago, at a friend’s house, I told him about the effect his music had on my son when he was a baby. He smiled and said jokingly that he knows that sometimes he can bore people to sleep. That remark was just typical of Rouicha’s humility and humor. Like many great artists, he did not even realize the enormous effect his music had on people. He was always joking, even when his health failed and he was hospitalized. Less than two weeks ago, when I talked to him at the clinic and asked him to get well and return quickly to his fans, he assured me that he was getting a brand new motor at the clinic that would sustain him for decades. I was very happy to hear that. Unfortunately, God had other plans for him. When I heard the news of his passing, I was sure it was just another hoax, until I got a call from Morocco from one of Rouicha’s most intimate friends, telling me that he was heading to Khenifra to attend the funeral. It was a sad sad day! I and millions of others are going to miss this great man. We belong to Allah and we will will return to him (Ina lillah wa ina laho larajioon)
Source: REMEMBRANCE: THE ROUICHA THAT I KNEW
