Sonic Pluriverse Festival: Aïta Mon Amour, Nihiloxica

Aïta, in Moroccan Arabic عيطة, means "call", "cry" or "lament" and is a major sonic practice like the genres Gnawa or Raï. The Chikhates - singers, healers and keepers of a tradition dating back to the twelfth century - have transmitted Aïta in colloquial Arabic, giving the music an expressive freedom and a feminist perspective that takes a stand against injustice.

In a symbolic transmission of heritage, Widad Mjama combines Aïta poems and melodies, combining tradition and innovation, deep expression and contemporary resonance. Aïta Mon Amour preserves the spirit of this tradition and sees itself as a tribute to these remarkable women. Each verse is a testament to Widad Mjama's graceful embodiment of her heritage.

Nihiloxica draws on the drumming tradition in Buganda, Uganda's largest historical kingdom, and combines it with techno, analogue synth sounds and heavy metal influences. The project began in 2016 when members of the Nilotika Cultural Ensemble, a collective led by Jajja Kalanda that shares spiritual and musical expertise with disadvantaged communities in Kampala, met British producers Peter Jones (aka pq) and Jacob Maskell-Key (aka Spooky-J). Their debut EP was released in 2017 on Nyege Nyege Tapes, followed by a second EP and their acclaimed first album Kaloli. In 2023, their LP Source of Denial was released on Crammed Discs.

With hypnotic polyrhythms, diverse sound textures and complex layering of subtly shifting loops, Nihiloxica create a sound world of remarkable depth. Their energetic performances are reminiscent of trance-like states and honor the drums that play a central role in ceremonies, healing and dance rites in Buganda. Two drums, the embuutu and the engalabi, have special significance: the embuutu provides the main melody, while the engalabi takes on important roles in ceremonies such as Okwabya Olumbe and symbolizes the descendants of the deceased.

In Luganda, “tugenda mungalabi” means “we are going to the engalabi.” This describes the communal drumming and inspires the name Nihiloxica, derived from nilotika and nihilism, which the group understands as radical acceptance. Their project promotes intercultural dialogue and redesigns electronic music through African percussion.