WOMAD

Darga

From Morocco

Founded in Casablanca in 2001 by a group of Fine Arts students, Darga (cactus in darija, Moroccan Arabic) started at the crossroads of different musical genres. They are now recognized as one of the leading groups of the new Moroccan scene.
These nine young artists are also fluent in various languages. They claim the originality of their sound stems from this cultural and musical melting-pot, inspired by reggae, gnawa, ragga, allaoui, funk, raï, rock, ska, dub, jazz… which produces a rather formidable energy and has now become one of the symbols of the new Maghreb World Music. Their first CD "Casa, Casa" (2004) was totally self-produced. Their second album "Stop Baraka" was released in Morocco in March 2008, with the addition of a section of brass instruments. Again, titles are in darija, French and English, as switching from one language to the other continues on stage as it happens in everyday life in the streets of Casablanca. They sing and share their genuine daily concerns, as spokesmen for Morocco's youth.
From concerts on to festivals, Drary diel Darga, or the Darga Boys, have travelled across Morocco with guitar, bass guitar, guembri, cymbals, congas and karkabou under their arms, and didjeridoo, keyboard, djembe and darboukas on their backs, playing at events before guest stars as Manu Dibango, Youssou N'Dour, Ray Lema, Sergent Garcia… Their first European tour took place in the summer of 2006. They are first and foremost a stage group; each concert is a happening, an endless jam-fusion that arouses growing audiences.

(Biography supplied by artist)