Season 2, Episode 1
The second season of The Dybbukast begins with an episode about the life and music of Samy Elmaghribi, presented in collaboration with the Museum of Jewish Montreal. Born Salomon Amzallag to a Jewish family in Morocco in 1922, Samy became a major star in his home country and throughout North Africa performing, composing, and recording both traditional and popular music, and later became a cantor and community leader in Montreal. His life’s journey moves through a broad spectrum of time and space, giving us glimpses into moments in history that shaped generations.
Yolande Amzallag, a professional translator and the founding president of the Samy Elmaghribi Foundation, shares about her father's life and legacy as Dr. Christopher Silver, the Segal Family Assistant Professor in Jewish History and Culture at McGill University and curator at Gharamophone.com, offers insights into Samy's musical history and Dr. Aomar Boum, Professor and Maurice Amado Chair in Sephardic Studies at UCLA, discusses the political and cultural experiences that intersected with Samy’s life.
Read the transcription for "I Sing and I Pray."
THE TEAM
Hosted by Aaron Henne
Scholarship provided by Yolande Amzallag, Aomar Boum, PhD, and Christopher Silver, PhD
Original recordings of songs by Samy Elmaghribi and the English translation of their lyrics provided by Yolande Amzallag
Edited by Mark McClain Wilson
Story editing by Clay Steakley with Aaron Henne and Julie A. Lockhart
Featuring the voices of Julie A. Lockhart, Clay Steakley, Diana Tanaka, and Jonathan C.K. Williams
Theme music composed by Michael Skloff and produced by Sam K.S.
Transcription and fact checking by Dylan Southard
"I Sing and I Pray" Learning Resources
Learn more about:
Mohammed V, Sultan of Morocco
Also referenced in the episode:
North African Jewish music at Gharamophone.com
Memories of Absence by Aomar Boum, PhD
Sounds of Nationalism by Christopher Silver, PhD
Exercises For Educators:
"I Sing and I Pray" for Youth Learners (PDF)
"I Sing and I Pray" for Adult and Teen Learners (PDF)
Watch with captions on YouTube:
ABOUT OUR EPISODE PARTNER
The Museum of Jewish Montreal (MJM) is an innovative place to connect with Montreal’s Jewish life and identity, share our diverse heritage and create new cultural experiences. We seek to inspire our audiences to help create a local ecosystem of Jewish arts and culture in Montreal through our programming, and act as an accessible gateway for anyone to learn about and interact with Montreal’s Jewish culture, art, and heritage while enabling the public to share their stories and experiences.