Reggada
Dance and song of the Beni Snassen in eastern Morocco, danced by men in a line, with measured movements of the shoulders and legs. The beat is given by the bendir and the wind instrument zamar.
What it is
Reggada is dance and song at once and is rooted in the oral culture of the Beni Snassen region; the Beni Snassen and the eastern Rif take pride in this tradition. At the Festival of Popular Arts of the Oriental in Berkane in 2026, it was presented as an art deeply rooted in the heritage of the region.
History
In the past, women sang during the day and men at night. Over time it became a form of bodily expression reserved for men.
What it is made of
The hands on the bendir and the feet on the ground must keep in step with the zamar, a wind instrument with two horns. To honour bravery, the men dance with a rifle or a dance stick, the khizrana, in their hands.
How it is made
The dancers stand in a line; the dance has two parts, a slow, short opening and a main part that is both frenzied and measured. The count is in odd numbers: dancers and masters call for three, five or seven beats. Dancers and musicians must know the various rhythmic patterns, among them jerra, dakhla, sakla and sbaïssia, also called aârachia.
When
The festival of Saïdia, founded in 1980, bore the name Festival des Reggada in its 26th edition, from 4 to 18 August 2007. At the opening of the 13th Festival of Popular Arts of the Oriental in Berkane in July 2026, the troupe Rawnaqiyate performed the reggada. The festival was organised by the culture department of the ministry with the province and commune of Berkane, and around 28 groups took part.
Where it comes from
At home in the region of Oriental.
Goes with it
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Last checked on 27 Oct 2026. 2 sources, 0 of them primary (authority, UNESCO, operator).