Patronage in the Arab Andalusian music of Libya : transformation, growth, and politics

Abstract

Studies concerning the Arab Andalusian music of the Maghreb have frequently drawn attention to the role of patronage in the support and promulgation of this tradition. Such patronage ranges from the financing of state-owned and private ensembles to wider access to performances of this music on national radio and TV channels, as well as the setting up of festivals that aim to boost emerging ensembles and also assist established ones to maintain their stature and status quo. Over the years, the Arab Andalusian musical tradition of ma’lūf in Libya has benefited from patrons and state structures willing to invest in it, as the tradition itself has come to symbolise affiliation, cultural prestige, and on a more national/international level, the state’s interest in Arab and indigenous arts and its commitment to promote a sustainable cultural activity that responds well to the country’s social and economic strategies. This chapter sheds light on and analyses different forms of patronage of the Libyan ma’lūf within a period that stretches from the presence of the Italian Fascists in Libya up until the first few years following the fall of the Gaddafi regime. The essay will show how patronage supported the survival and growth of this tradition and how patrons and institutions used this support in their own interest.