Idir: The Warrior’s Rest

Achour Berkaine
Amazigh Activist, Montreal, Canada

It has been a year since our sorrow receded to reveal a cultural memory that the Kabyle mountains will not bear alone, the great weight of a rich heritage, spread far and wide, uniting multiple countries under one culture. The message, not surprisingly, was received first by Idir’s own people, then by the rest of the planet– once thought to be so far away, but now how near to the sound of his voice! With a simple tune that has now become a standard, the visionary collaborator Ben Mohammed sang of a future in reply to Jugurtha’s deciphered message, knowing that the day would come… and it has.

The search is still in early stages, and not a day goes by but a new treasure is unearthed. While it is true that music and voice are early signs of an emerging idol, Idir’s preference was to be a drive belt from the past to the future, and eventually the call of the people for a reckoning with History that would jolt their destiny forward.

He did not imagine that his interest in geology would lead him to a much more expansive subject, the ethnological reconquering of a great, once-lost space from a voracious and multiplying greed. Years spent opening secret doors, malevolently guarded by masters tasked with annihilating all traces of the authentic past, did not in any way dissuade this clever seeker from searching for the clues that would highlight the interplay of his voice with various instruments, melodies, and specific root words.

To hear Idir sing or explain his lyrics is spell-binding, as evidenced by the electricity in the room. From his very first notes, he builds a partnership with his audience, and maintains it for the entire performance. For this lover of words, every song demands explanation. Evidence of his care and attention is everywhere. The hallmark of this seminal artist is a sweetness tinged with a care for our shared heritage, Tamazight in general and Kabyle in particular. This sweetness is the fruit of an unwavering commitment that he clings to. No compromise could divert him from his goal: international recognition of the values that constantly remind him of his brothers’ and sisters’ gifts of life, particular moments in his history, in ours. We have every tool at our disposal to make the civilizations of the North see the drift towards a kind of neighborliness fiercely opposed to all differences, however small. These calls will continue to awaken the consciousness of our workforce living in this vast space.

Between Kabylia, the Aurès, Tanger, and Tunis, there is but one voice, and the longed-for echo is undeniable and resounding. It is listening for the softest note that may enrich its life-renewing repertoire. Every soul is called upon to take up the cause against a program of erasure. Traces of this humble troubadour’s work can be found in every corner of the globe; he was able to join other cultures to his own. The rush to translate, which elevated Idir to the throne of notoriety, has grown and spread to towns as remote as his native Kabylia. This enthusiasm is amplified by every part of the diaspora, which elevated him to the level of prestige he holds today. His inclusion on Radio-France-Internationale in the 1970s, with the song “A Vava Inou va,” was the result of persistent effort by Paris’ Kabyle community.

Miraculously, this song became a bestseller at Gibert Jeunes record stores in France, surpassing well-known international names. Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Ravi Shankar anxiously awaited their turns at the top, which would only come several months later. After that, the triumphs were non-stop. Through it all, Idir knew that the values he carried with him in his first suitcase were the essentials that allowed him to shine through in his adventures. His mountainous Kabylia again became the height of rejuvenation, propelling him to further horizons. It is a good bet, then, that researchers in various university circles will devote whole chapters to elucidating this phenomenon, these referential and semi-unique homecomings to the region that leaves no soul who passes through it unmoved. The indissoluble bond between Idir and his roots can be felt in the need to cry out louder and farther, to manifest a beneficial legacy for all mankind. According to subject matter specialists, he has helped to preserve one of the oldest cultures in the world. With love and recognition for the survivors we are, he convinces great singers of the language of Molière to sing loudly and proudly in Kabyle. Forestier and Aznavour, among others, have given themselves over to the language of Boulifa, a way of calling to order the ill will of our neighbors. This should not be chalked up to age; Azanvour, 88 at the time of the recording, would turn over furiously in his grave.

During Idir’s first trip to Montreal, some journalists were astonished by his professionalism and poise. I saw Yves, who worked at Radio Centre Ville, the day after his interview with Idir. He said, and I quote: “In my entire career as a music journalist, I have never been so moved by such stature. He answered my questions without my asking them. I’ve traveled the world meeting the biggest names in music, but the time I spent with Idir was like nothing else.” He was too young to leave us; we miss him! Enough, History will say: his achievement will stand for a thousand years!