Following the ethereal ‘Tuareg’, released last month, Libyan artist Amaka Jaji deepens his connection to Tuareg identity on ‘32’, a single that sheds light on the lived realities of young people in the city of Ghat in southern Libya, an area marked by a severe lack of basic services and limited job opportunities.
Now based in Cairo, Amaka turns his focus to the youth associated with Ghat’s 32nd district, the regional administrative code tied to his hometown in southwest Libya. He presents them as ordinary people living in marginalized neighborhoods, playing dominoes and cards, and carrying dreams and ambitions familiar to young people everywhere. Yet amid systemic neglect and the absence of real prospects, those dreams remain distant. Rather than centering on crime, Amaka speaks to the difficult choices and situations these young people find themselves caught in, exploring how harsh conditions have pushed many toward smuggling as a forced response to economic pressure.
While stepping away from overt Sufi and Tuareg musical references, the social commentary retains his signature light, soulful, and almost spiritual presence. The production draws loosely from hip-hop, R&B, and elements of trap without fully committing to any single convention. A slow tempo and deep bass establish a heavy, late-night street atmosphere, as Amaka adopts a melodic, chant-like delivery shaped by the cadence of the Libyan dialect.
WE ALSO SAID: Don’t Miss…Nagham Saleh’s ‘Cabaret’ Is an Ode to the Golden Grit of Egyptian Nightlife
