Recording History: Jews, Muslims, and Music across Twentieth-Century North Africa

Recording History provides a new perspective on twentieth-century North Africa by highlighting the role of Arab music in bringing Jews and Muslims together. Jewish musicians shaped the popular songs that were broadcast on radio, performed in concerts, and circulated on disc, carrying the power to delight audiences, stir national sentiments, and frustrate French colonial authorities. Christopher Silver's book traces the path of hit-makers and their hit records, illuminating regional and transnational connections and recovering a world of many voices whose music still resonates today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 07 June 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

A fresh perspective on the history of North Africa during the 20th century is presented in the book "Recording History," which highlights the significant role of musicians in shaping an era and the dynamic recording industry that disseminated their popular sounds throughout the colonial and decolonization periods.

Typically, the narratives of Jews and Muslims in North Africa are presented separately, but "Recording History" reveals that we have been overlooking a crucial factor that united these communities: Arab music. For decades, thousands of phonograph records traversed the borders of North Africa, carrying the sounds influenced by Jewish musicians who expressed the changing world around them. These popular songs, broadcast on radio, performed in concerts, and circulated on discs, wielded the power to captivate audiences, evoke national sentiments, and challenge French colonial authorities.

In his comprehensive account of the music scene and recording industry across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, Christopher Silver offers insightful perspectives on Jewish-Muslim relations through the rhythms that animated these communities. He traces the trajectory of hit-makers and their iconic hit records, illuminating regional and transnational connections. By delving into the question of what North Africa once sounded like, Silver resurrects a world filled with diverse voices—from pioneering impresarios, daring female stars, cantors turned composers, witnesses and survivors of war, and national and nationalist icons—whose music continues to resonate deeply in our present.

This book serves as a valuable contribution to the field, shedding light on the overlooked role of Arab music in shaping the cultural landscape of North Africa during the 20th century. It provides a rich tapestry of stories and melodies that showcase the enduring impact of music on society and culture.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503631687