El Gusto: The Good Mood

A Chaabi orchestra is reunited. This is Buena Vista Social Club – in North Africa. On a rock by the Mediterranean lies the Algerian city of Casbah: the home of Chaabi, a unique musical style that is a mix of Berber folk song, Islamic hymns and Andalusian melodies. The music transcended borders, and was widely popular in both the Jewish and the Arab communities. Unaware of this history, Safinez Bousiba accidentally comes across the story of a Chaabi orchestra. tr

Safinez Bousiba worked as an architect before she decided to become a filmmaker. Whilst visiting her native Algeria, she heard the story of a Chaabi orchestra whilst in a mirror shop. The moving story made her decide to track down the orchestra and reunite them. She collaborated with Damon Albarn to produce the orchestra's first album.