WATCH: Waaju feat. Majid Bekkas – “Bania” (Live at Church of Sound)

Watch footage of ‘Bania’ recorded live at Church of Sound in East London.

In an unforgettable musical encounter, London-based Afro-jazz band Waaju and Moroccan guembri master Majid Bekkas came together for a live recording in an atmospheric church in East London. The historic setting, with its vaulted ceilings and resonant acoustics, provided the perfect backdrop for their dynamic fusion of West African rhythms and North African gnawa traditions. The collaboration blended Waaju’s percussive energy with Bekkas’ deep, trance-like melodies, creating a soulful and hypnotic sound that echoed through the church’s sacred space. This unique performance not only showcased their individual talents but also celebrated the power of cross-cultural collaboration in music.

The track ‘Bania’ is taken fro the new album ‘Alouane‘. ‘Alouane’ translates as ‘Colours’ in Arabic and speaks of the seven colours which are integral to Gnawa music. Each colour represents and invokes a different spirit and most Gnawa songs are within one of these seven colours. It is said that each person has a connection with one of these colours, whether they are aware of it or not which, at times, can result in intense, involuntary bodily reactions upon hearing a certain Gnawa song. Recorded largely at a packed Church of Sound in London, the room’s energy surges to peaks of extreme uplift with uncontrolled audience hollers like on “Bania”, balanced with others of delicate introspection like on “Lando”. ‘Alouane’ presents a record light on its feet with harmonic nuance and dynamic sensibility, and acts as a powerful contribution to the Gnawa fusion genre.

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Majid Bekkas – vocals & guimbri
Ben Brown – drums
Sam Rapley – tenor saxophone
Tal Janes – guitar
Joe Downard – bass
Will Fry – congas
Ben Rodney – krakebs
Driss Yamdeh & Simo Lagnawi – additional krakebs & dance
Trad. song arranged by Ben Brown & Majid Bekkas
Produced by Ben Brown

Recorded at Church of Sound, London on 2nd March 2023
Audio Recording by Will Rose
Mixed by Tom Excell
Mastered by Frank Merritt
Filmed by Harry Christelis & Pedro Velasco
Video Editing by Harry Christelis