Ibn Bajja, also known as Avempace, was more than just a philosopher. He was a musician and a poet who lived in Al-Andalus, where Muslims, Christians, and Jews coexisted and their cultures blended, inspiring him to think creatively about music and philosophy.

Abdelfettah Benmoussa, a university professor of Andalusian music, explained that Ibn Bajja was fascinated by music, especially muwashshah (Andalusian songs). He was mostly known for philosophy, yet he tremendously helped develop music.

Amine Chaachoua, an Andalusian scholar, said that Ibn Bajja’work was very important in changing Andalusian music. He came up with a new Andalusian style that combines music from the East, brought by Ziryab and local Iberian (Christian European) traditions. This new style symbolized the identity of Al-Andalus, and later became the foundation of Andalusian music in Morocco.

Soufiane Jdira, an Andalusian artist, explained that philosophers like Plato and Aristotle influenced Ibn Bajja, and Muslim scholars like Al-Farabi and Ibn Sina. He saw music as part of a larger system connected to the cosmos and the human soul. He believed that music could influence emotions and behavior. Jdira also said that Ibn Bajja made music more important than poetry, which influenced the Andalusian music we know today.

Ibn Bajja was a thinker and an artist who interlinked different cultures through music. He contributed a lot to the creation of Andalusian music in Morocco.