Moroccan Folk Singer Chama Zaz, ’Voice of the Mountain,’ Dies at 71

At the age of 71, the star of Aïta Jabalia suffered from heart complications. She was taken care of on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and local authorities, after having long suffered from neglect and oblivion. She was admitted to the military hospital in Rabat for more than a month before returning to Taounate.

For the record, at just 14 years old, she was forcibly married to an old man, who four years later died, leaving her with two children to support, one of whom was disabled. She left Douar "Roux" where she was native, to go to Taounate, no longer able to travel its rugged tracks to take care of her cow or take care of her disabled son.

She was the companion of another great name in "Taktouka Al Jabalia", Mohamed Laaroussi, the sheikh of Al Aita for forty years. The latter had helped her to impose herself. She often recounted that his death would have deprived her of her love for singing.