Amaka Jaji Takes Tuareg & Sufi to the 21st Century in 'Samrat Al-Ain'

Shaped by the musical traditions of his Sufi upbringing in Libya, Cairo-based artist, Amaka Jaji, has offered the first taste of his upcoming album, ‘Nghani Norqos w Nqatel’, with a new single that folds sweeping, cinematic electronic elements into Tuareg and Sufi sounds.

Described as an ode to the desert that raised him, ‘Samrat Al-Ain’ sees the singer-songwriter at his most soulful, with his vocals seamlessly melding into a sonic ensemble as if part of the instrumentation. It’s an effortless blend of east and west, but one that is very much rooted in Jaji’s eclectic influences.

A self-taught guitarist, Jaji is a student of his craft, a disciple of not only of Sufi and Tuareg music he grew up with, but of the sounds and culture of the region as a whole. He began singing spiritual music and reciting the Quran from an early age, which has influenced his vocal style, and in his adult years, he has found inspiration in Rai, Sudanese music, and the Berber-inspired sounds of Tunisia, having lived there for some time.

The new album, set to release this winter on RAAD Records, builds on the artist’s 2024 album, ‘TIDET’, a record revolving around themes of love, friendship and spirituality, with each of the 12 tracks signifying a particular chapter of his life. It’s this introspection and exploration of traditional sounds that has made Jaji one of the most unique voices on the regional music scene, one that modernises and simultaneously preserves his roots.