Walid Mimoun - Orino Thramwaj (Instrumental Cover)

Walid Mimoun (born Mimoun El Walid on March 19, 1959) is a pioneering Riffian Amazigh singer-songwriter, poet, and cultural icon widely celebrated as the “King of Riffian Song.” Born in the village of Bni Sidel near Nador, Morocco, he became a foundational figure in modern committed Amazigh music, using his native Tarifit language to champion human dignity, land, and cultural identity. During Morocco’s politically oppressive Years of Lead, his fiercely critical lyrics drew swift state suppression. His debut 1980 album, Ajjaj (Thunder), was officially banned by the government but circulated widely through a secret underground network. His vocal activism as a university student later resulted in his imprisonment and eventual expulsion from the University of Fez. Faced with persistent cultural restrictions and a lack of linguistic rights, Mimoun returned to the spotlight in 1986 with his acclaimed album Ametluɛ (The Vagabond), which gave a powerful voice to the marginalized population of the Rif region. The ongoing socio-political pressures eventually forced him into exile in 1991, taking him through the Netherlands and the Canary Islands before he permanently settled in Belgium, where he worked closely with the European Riffian diaspora. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Mimoun modernized Amazigh music through timeless albums such as Thayyuth (Fog) and deeply moving songs such as “Dchar Ino,” blending traditional acoustic elements with contemporary arrangements. His work has had a profound impact on North African music and has helped preserve and popularize the cultural and linguistic identity of the Rif. His enduring influence was celebrated during a major career tribute at the Thwiza Festival in Tangier.