Biography :

Montréal July 2003. Seven musicians living in Montreal decided to pool their talents and found Anzar, at the urging of Arezki Taleb. The seven musicians combined their talent, experience and energy to disseminate the music of their origins, straight from the Maghreb. Their aim was to get crowds dancing to the beats they had been brought up with during their childhoods.

The group soon became Berbanya, from the words “anya” (rhythms) and “berb‘,” the beginning of Berber. Their watchword was to perform Kabyle musical styles from Algeria. On stage, magic took its course. Melodies and rhythms from the village brought audiences on a distant journey, dancing, humming or forgetting everything, with hips swaying to lively melodies. 

Berbanya now has seven members. They are Yacine Kedadouche on vocals and mandole, Ferhat Achour on vocals and guitar, Zahir Kaci on keyboard, Hakim Chérif on percussions, Fateh Talbi on bass, Nassim Amrouche on saxophone and Zellat Athmane on drums.

Since it was created, Berbanya has taken part in many festivals in Quebec: the Festival des Rythmes du Monde de Fleurimont (2004), the Festival des musique du Maghreb (2004-2007), Nuits d’Afrique (2005), the Festival des Transarts Africains Tumbuktu (2005, 2007) and the Festival international des rythmes du monde du Saguenay (2008).

Berbanya

Links

• http://www.berbanya.com/

Concerts of the artist: