Habibi Funk Records

Habibi Funk Records is a reissue record label based in Berlin, Germany dedicated to music from the Arab world. It was co-founded by Jannis Stürtz, who also works as a DJ using the name Habibi Funk. The label is mostly known for its albums and accompanying booklets of Arabic funk and soul bands from the 1960-80s.

History Jannis Stürtz first became interested in the music of the region while visiting Casablanca, Morocco in 2012. Habibi Funk's first release was al-Zman Saib (), a 1970s reinterpretation of British rock group Free's song "All Right Now" by a Moroccan group called Fadaul et les Privileges ().

Habibi Funk has re-released an expansive collection of Arabic funk and soul bands from the 1960-80s, including compilations. Apart from these, there are albums featuring a specific band, like Sudanese funk musician Kamal Keila, the "King of Sudanese Jazz", Sharhabil Ahmed or The Scorpions and Saif Abu Bakr, as well as North African musicians such as Al Massrieen, Ahmed Malek, Raze de Soare, Mallek Mohamed, and Hamid El Shaeri.

Cultural politics and licensing In an interview with The Vinyl Factory, Stürtz commented: "If you’re a European or Western label and you’re dealing with non-European artists’ music, there’s obviously a special responsibility to make sure you don’t reproduce historic economic patterns of exploitation, which is the number one thing when it comes to the post-colonial aspect of what we are doing." Stürtz has emphasised the importance of avodiding orientalist "stereotypical visual language." Stürtz has said that Habibi Funk Records licenses the music it reissues directly from the artists or their families, who get a 50% cut of the profits.

Discography Adapted from the label's website. Music recorded at an earlier date but previously unreleased is denoted with "archival". Cat. No.ArtistTitleTypeCountryOriginal Release YearReissue Year001Dalton"Alech"Reissue single1971/22015002FadoulAl Zman SaibCompilation album2015003Ahmed MalekMusique Originale De FilmsReissue album19782016004Carthago "Alech"Reissue single19792016005Ahmed Malek & FlakoThe Electronic TapesAlbum / 2017006Al MassrieenModern MusicCompilation album2017007An Eclectic Selection of Music from the Arab WorldVarious artists compilation album2017008Kamal KeilaMuslims and ChristiansArchival album2018009The Scorpions & Saif Abu BakrJazz, Jazz, JazzReissue album19802018010Issam HajaliMouasalat Ila Jacad El ArdReissue album19772019011Attarazat Addahabia & FaradjallahAl HadaouiArchival album2019012Ahmed Ben Ali"Subhana"Archival single2020013Sharhabil AhmedThe King Of Sudanese JazzCompilation album2020014Solidarity With BeirutVarious artists compilation album2020015An Eclectic Selection of Music from the Arab World, Part 2Various artists compilation album2021016Rogér FakhrFine AnywayReissue album1977https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/lebanon-roger-fakhr-music-fine-anyway-album2021https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/lebanon-roger-fakhr-music-fine-anyway-album017Majid SoulaChant AmazighCompilation album2021018Hamid El ShaeriThe SLAM! Years (1983 - 1988)Compilation album2022019Ferkat Al ArdOghneyaReissue album19782022020MahaOrkosReissue album19792022021The Free MusicFree Music (Part 1)Compilation album2023022Ahmed Ben AliSubhanaArchival album2023023Charif MegarbaneMarzipanAlbum2023024Ibrahim HesnawiThe Father of Libyan ReggaeCompilation album2023025Rogér FakhrEast of Any PlaceArchival album2023026Solidarity with LibyaVarious artists compilation album2023027Ahmed MalekMusique Originale De Films (Volume 2)Reissue album19782024028Ahmed MalekMusique Originale De Films (Volume 3)Reissue album19782024029Cheb BakrSamh Almea'adSingle2024030Charif MegarbaneHawalatAlbum2025031A Selection of Music from Libyan TapesVarious artists compilation album2025

Habibi Funk Records

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