With the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Sahara Desert to the south North Africa serves as a crossroad between many cultures The Atlantic coast of Morocco forms the Western boundary of North Africa and the Suez Canal in Egypt its eastern end Most of North Africa is known as the Maghreb and includes the countries of Morocco Algeria Tunisia and Libya Egypt which is generally considered part of the Middle East is geographically part of North Africa PEchoes of ancient history can still be heard in the rhythms and melodies of North Africa? popular music While electronic drum beats disco and funk-inspired grooves hip-hop and other Western influences are clearly apparent in the modern music of the region traditional instrumentation singing techniques and melodies play an important role in defining the local sound PThe two best known types of popular music from North Africa are rai and al-jil Rai means opinion in Arabic and it developed in the Algerian port city of Oran in the 1950s and 60s Rai is the North African equivalent of rock and roll and is now popular throughout the Maghreb and in Arabic communities around the world Al-jil is Egyptian party music While rai and al-jil still form the core of popular North African music Moroccan Gnawa trance Touareg blues Berber folk and Afro-Nubian rhythms are some of the exotic local flavors that have influenced the region? music PIn recent years the French cities of Paris and Marseilles have become important production centers for North African music and many popular artists are beginning to create songs that target their own communities as well as a wider French market Meanwhile European DJs and producers have collaborated with artists from the region and the influences of electronica and European club music are ever more evident
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