Ever since Omar Bena was a kid, he knew he wanted to be a musician. However, the lack of opportunities and pressure from his parents prevented him from pursuing his dream in Morocco, until a studying abroad opportunity in 2006. While Bena was supposed to study in Taiwan, complications led him to Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and, finally, Korea. That’s where he started his journey as a musician.

«When I went to Asia, I had more freedom to explore this side of mine,» he told Yabiladi. «So, I ended up playing more music.» 

A native to Casablanca, Bena has been living in Korea since 2007, nearly two decades since he first arrived in the country. While he has started various projects, a band he started in 2018 is picking up steam. 

With a heavy bass and groovy sound, Omar and the Eastern Power combines Gnawa, Sahelian, psychedelic rock and Afro-beats with a Korean flair. It is made up of Bena, an Egyptian hand drummer and three Korean musicians. As much as the band’s unique musicality draws people in, Bena feels like the band was in the right place at the right time. 

«I was lucky that I came during that time in Korea, when it was opening towards more underground music,» he said. 

Growing a presence

The band expanded their audience this year by playing important gigs, like at notable Korean festivals like the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival and Block Party Music & Arts Festival, according to Bena. 

A big milestone was playing at this year’s Visa for Music festival, which promotes African and Middle Eastern artists through concerts in Rabat. 

«Last year, they invited us to come, but we couldn’t, so everybody was looking forward to it,» Bena said. «Also because we don’t have many chances to play outside of Korea, it was really exciting. At the same time, I was nervous to play in Morocco because it’s my home country.»

The festival was only second time he would play music in Morocco. The band got to Morocco with the help of sponsor Wijhat (or Destinations), which is a program that helps fund Arab artists who travel for creative opportunities. Despite the nerves, Bena says the band had a great time and the crowd was receptive to their sound.

«When we played in the festival, the theater was really full, people were waiting for us to play and the show was great. We could see people dancing, enjoying our music, and it was a really nice feeling, like a really good reward, because we’ve been working really hard on our music these past years. Then, we had a lot of people come to see us afterwards and say, ‘Hey, where have you been hiding all this time?’» 

 A cultural exchange

Bena says the band «really enjoyed Morocco» and he wants to come back with them to play more festivals in the future. He tries to go back to Morocco at least once every year, especially during the cold and harsh Korean winters. 

«Whenever I come back to Morocco, I get in touch again with my roots and my culture, so it’s nice to recharge my batteries, and then go back to Korea to keep doing music and have new inspirations».

Bena recently moved from Jeju Island, a small island off the southern coast of the Korean peninsula, back to Seoul, the city where he first experienced Korea.

«I like it more now because at that time, I didn’t speak much Korean. Now I speak Korean, so it’s fun to re-experience the city because now I can talk to the people. It’s nice to communicate with old people, people in the street, people in the shops. You go deeper in the culture.»

Although many countries are seeing a rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric, Bena hopes Omar and the Easter Power can be an example of how multiculturalism benefits creativity and bridges gaps between worlds. 

«People from different nationalities or backgrounds getting together and making something beautiful together is one of the best things you can show and share to the rest of the world» he said. 

Now, the team is working on a new EP, which will have four songs and is set to be released in 2026.

«They are basically talking about our stories, these last few years in Korea, as the identity of a migrant living in a foreign country, and also not belonging to that country 100%,» he said.