RIBAB FUSION

Founded in 2008 in Agadir, Ribab Fusion is spearheading the revival of Amazigh music. Led by ribab virtuoso Foulane Bouhssine, a graduate of the Agadir Conservatory of Music, the group has reinvented this emblematic single-string instrument, electrifying it and blending it with blues, rock, reggae, and funk. Bouhssine—a former member of Amarg Fusion—centres the ribab at the heart of a bold musical experiment, where traditional Souss rhythms meet the modern textures of international pop. With his powerful, expressive playing, he is often dubbed the “Jimi Hendrix of the Ribab”. Faithful to heritage while exploring new frontiers, Ribab Fusion is also inspired by Gnaoua traditions—particularly the Issemgane chants—enriching its musical identity with deep African roots. The track “Ismgan” (2023) illustrates this fusion, the fruit of several years’ research into the links between African blues and Amazigh music. Winners of the Morocco Music Awards in 2014 and 2017, the group has established itself on the international scene, touring Africa, Europe, and America. With albums such as Almougar, L’fichta and Amazigh Adgigh, Ribab Fusion is constantly pushing back the boundaries of what is possible, bringing Amazigh music into the modern world while preserving its ancestral essence.