Rediscovering Tunisia’s Hidden Musical Heritage: Mehdi Ben Yahia’s Journey Through the Pop, Funk, Soul, and Reggae Bands of the 70s and 80s
For several months, Mehdi Ben Yahia has undertaken an intriguing exploration into a lesser-explored aspect of Tunisia’s abundant musical legacy. Motivated by his enthusiasm for discovering the narratives and melodies of Tunisia’s pop, funk, soul, and reggae bands from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Mehdi’s investigation has uncovered a lively musical environment that once enchanted audiences, especially in the hotels frequented by many Western tourists.
During the late 1970s, a handful of Tunisian bands gained widespread recognition for their performances at legendary venues like the Carthage Amphitheatre. Their music, fusing Western influences with Tunisian elements, struck a chord with audiences and propelled them to the forefront of the music industry.
When Mehdi began his research, he faced a significant challenge in gathering information. The limited availability of data and the scattered, unlisted tracks made the task quite difficult. However, his breakthrough came when he had the privilege of conversing with some of the pioneering artists of that era. Their willingness to share their stories and adventures provided valuable illumination for his research. Additionally, Mehdi connected with the descendants of these musicians, who offered inspiring accounts of their parents’ contributions to that vibrant musical period.
Major Breakthroughs in the Research
Thanks to the generosity of these incredible individuals, Mehdi had the privilege of listening to and enjoying previously unreleased music. His research led to three significant breakthroughs:
Online Publication of Playlists: Mehdi has curated a virtually complete playlist of Western-inspired Tunisian music from the period, now available on YouTube and an incomplete version on Spotify.
Referencing and Publication of Unobtainable Tracks: Dozens of previously unobtainable tracks, previously available only on vinyl, are now accessible online.
Unpublished Photos: He has acquired and published previously unseen photos from the period, capturing the essence of these remarkable bands.
Acknowledgments
Mehdi is deeply grateful to the many individuals who have supported his research. Special thanks to Sadok Gharbi and Hassen Turki for facilitating his connections with the artists. Ichraf Salem, the master’s thesis on the influence of Western music in Tunisia was invaluable, and your meeting in Sousse was enlightening. Mehdi extends his gratitude to DJ Eshkoun Jay and Mr. Hamouda Ben Jamaa for their unwavering support.
Thank you to Hamadi Mahjoub, Fawzi Chekili Music, and Amine Zalila for sharing their anecdotes about the music of that era.
A special thanks to Habibi Funk, whose dedication to preserving and promoting the musical treasures of the Arab world has been instrumental in inspiring Mehdi’s research. Habibi Funk’s efforts have not only made these rare tracks accessible but have also ignited enthusiasm among Tunisian youth for the country’s rich musical past. His work in collecting and reproducing Tunisia’s old funk, jazz, disco, and reggae music has been invaluable in reviving interest in this cultural heritage.
