Context
The Draoua people of southern Morocco are in fact a group of multiple ethnic tribes, who over the course of several centuries, have adopted the term “Draoua” to refer to the fact that they were the first to inhabit the oasis. The Draoua people of the Fezouata Oasis, inhabiting Ksar Timig, perform Akalal music, which is itself a combination of several styles of music. First, there is Def music, performed with a handheld tara and tareja, and the accompaniment of up to 30 musicians clapping along to the rhythm. Second, there is Siyf music, a sonic landscape in and of itself, featuring the handheld def, tara, the wielding of swords (siyouf), and a flute accompaniment.
