Sfatayim were an Israeli rock band from Sderot that formed in 1984. The ensemble was founded by the vocalist Haïm Ulliel, the bassist Haim Ohana, and the drummer Eli Ulliel and are famous for consolidating an Israeli-Moroccan musical style and for being the first major band to emerge from Sderot. The group’s sound blended the traditional music of Moroccan immigrants with international rock influences and introduced Jewish-Moroccan lyrics into mainstream Israeli culture. They achieved professional recognition with their 1992 debut studio recording HaAlbum HaKafool, eventually earning a platinum record for selling over 40,000 copies. Their discography includes the studio recordings MiDor LeDor (1993), Ish VeKinor (1996), and the compilation Moroccan Party (1997). The ensemble’s shifting lineup included the keyboardist Yaakov Uzan, who later achieved fame as Kobi Oz in the band Teapacks. Sfatayim disbanded in 1998 but reunited briefly in 2004 for a concert tour. Eli Ulliel died in 2020.
