Eighth diwan festival: African dimension on stage

A journey through the origins of the Sahel diwan ritual and its surrounding beliefs was offered to the Bechar's public Sunday night by "Sidi Blel" band from Bechar which revived on stage a part of this heritage which becomes increasingly rare. This band, which performs at the official competition of the 8th National Festival of diwan Music held in Bechar since Friday, is steeped in a tradition of diwan which still retains a very intense activity in the region. "Sidi Blel'' distinguished itself on stage by choosing bradjs (pieces) of "khalawiyne" dedicated to the spirits of forests and hunters, songs played rarely in Algeria but saved around Mascara, as explained by Abdelkader Benamar, leader of the band. The spectacular aspect of this repertoire hooked the audience with their costumes, rich in color and decorated with feathers, replica weapons (spears, knives, bows and arrows) and gestures of hunters stalking prey.