Hawzi Music: A Pillar of Algeria’s Cultural Identity and a Blow to Morocco’s Opportunistic Claims

The latest uproar stems from the 13th edition of the National Hawzi Music Festival, held at the Abdelkrim Dali Palace of Culture in Tlemcen, which celebrated this quintessentially Algerian musical genre. Tracing its origins back to the 15th century, Hawzi music is deeply rooted in Algeria’s Andalusian traditions, enriched by celebrated poets, such as Ben Treki, Ben Massayeb, and Ben Sahla, who contributed profoundly to its evolution. Despite these unequivocal historical connections, Moroccan social media pages—linked to a coordinated propaganda network—have attempted to distort the narrative, claiming Hawzi music as their own.

Cultural Illumination Meets Moroccan Fabrication

The Algerian Ministry of Culture and Arts, represented by Mbarka Kaddouri, delivered a powerful message during the festival’s opening ceremony, emphasizing the importance of documenting and safeguarding Algeria’s intangible cultural heritage. This statement seemed to ignite a propaganda campaign orchestrated by Morocco’s so-called “electronic flies,” as photos from the festival and baseless assertions about Hawzi music’s origins were disseminated to mislead audiences on platforms like Facebook.

The magnitude of this act of cultural theft reveals a chronic pattern of Morocco’s regime seeking to appropriate Algerian traditions. Yet, such fabrications collapse under the weight of historical evidence. Hawzi music, an offshoot of Algeria’s Andalusian musical tradition, is a sophisticated art form known for its intricate melodies and refined lyrics that elevate public taste—a stark contrast to the distortions peddled by Moroccan propaganda.

A Festival of Identity and Resilience

Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts, Zouhir Ballalou, through his representative, reiterated Algeria’s commitment to promoting its classical music genres through six national festivals, including the National Hawzi Music Festival. He described the event as “an opportunity to document, preserve, and elevate this heritage,” a mission that has clearly unsettled Morocco’s regime, triggering a series of reactionary online smear campaigns.

Morocco’s ongoing attempts to undermine Algeria’s cultural sovereignty illustrate its desperation to stake a claim in Algerian heritage. This behavior, however, only underscores Algeria’s success in preserving and elevating its cultural assets on an international stage.

In the face of Morocco’s relentless attempts to hijack Algeria’s heritage, the resilience and authenticity of Algerian culture prevail. Each Hawzi melody, each verse penned by its poets, resonates as a testament to Algeria’s enduring cultural sovereignty, unshaken by opportunistic claims or fabricated narratives.