Moh Alileche at Ashkenaz -- a musician with a mission

                                   Moh Alileche

 Next Saturday night (March 14), the Moh Alileche Ensemble returns to Ashkenaz in Berkeley. A fixture of the local music scene, Alileche is also a man on a mission: to educate people about the culture and people of his native Kabylia, the center of Amazigh (Berber) culture in Algeria. Saturday’s show is a celebration of Moh’s 50th birthday and the release of his fourth cd, “In Memory of a Hero,” a tribute to outspoken singer and activist for Amazigh rights Matoub Lounes. Assassinated in 1998 by unknown parties, Matoub Lounes and his songs have become enduring symbols of the struggle for Amazigh rights in Algeria and across North Africa. With Lounes gone, Moh Alileche has set himself the task of continuing his struggle. Two of his four cds are tributes to Matoub Lounes and his own compositions reflect his commitment to the struggle for Amazigh rights.

If Alileche’s songs were only a polemic for Amazigh rights, they would soon lose their interest. But luckily, they are well-written, engaging songs that entertain despite Moh’s assertion that he is not an entertainer. The songs on his new cd demonstrate the diversity of moods and voices that characterizes Alileche’s work. Sample clips from the cd are available online at CD Universe and watch these pages for an upcoming review of “In Memory of a Hero.”

Saturday’s show will follow Moh’s usual format. The first set will include a selection of popular songs of Kabylia, including songs of Matoub Lounes. The second set will be devoted to Moh Alileche’s original compositions. The music speaks for itself but Moh enhances the experience by offering introductions that explain the imagery and subject matter of the songs (all lyrics are all in Kabyle). Also, performing with Moh Alileche Ensemble on several songs will be Danse Maghreb, a female dance troupe that performs Amazigh dances in traditional attire. After the concert, renowned dj Cheb i Sabbah will take over with post-concert dance music.