Chgouri as Sonic Memory: Music, Identity, and Reconciliation among Third-Generation Israeli-Moroccan Jews

Elaloui M

Published on: 2026-02-05

Abstract

This article explores Chgouri music as a form of sonic memory and identity construction among third-generation Israeli-Moroccan Jews. Drawing on ethnographic interviews, cultural analysis, and postcolonial theory, the study positions Chgouri as a bridge between generations, geographies, and fragmented histories. For youth born into the legacy of displacement and cultural marginalization, Chgouri functions not merely as folklore, but as a living archive that enables emotional and political negotiation of identity.

The paper demonstrates how Chgouri music revives a sense of belonging through its hybrid aesthetics—merging Arab, Jewish, North African, and contemporary Israeli influences. This hybrid nature fosters both personal healing and collective empowerment, offering a counter-narrative to dominant Ashkenazi cultural norms. The article further examines how Morocco, as an imagined homeland, is activated through sound, memory, and ritual, revealing the symbolic role of music in shaping diasporic consciousness.

Ultimately, the article argues that Chgouri serves not only as a vehicle for memory and identity but also as a potential medium of reconciliation and soft diplomacy—revitalizing cultural empathy within and beyond Israeli society. By analyzing this phenomenon through a socio-anthropological lens, the study contributes to broader debates in memory studies, diaspora studies, and the anthropology of music.