Libya : history, culture, and geography of music

Abstract

Music in the North African country of Libya is both diverse and extensive. The country’s musical spectrum comprises genres believed to have been brought into the country by Andalusian refugees escaping the Christian reconquest of Spain as well as folk, wind band, and modern pop music. As in many world music traditions, music in Libya attests to the presence and governance of foreign colonialists, social and political developments, and the impact of revolutionaries who brought forth new ideologies and social orders. The geographical vastness of the country that includes a portion of the Sahara Desert is enriched by musical traditions shaped by local customs and communal social practices. This entry first discusses the geography of Libya and the wedding music particular to certain regions of the country. It then looks at the musical legacies of Libya and the music heard there today.