Music Around the World: Algeria

Our next stop on our unofficial musical world tour is the African nation of Algeria. Here's a quick crash-geography course in case you, like me, weren't super familiar with the country:

-Capital City: Algiers

-Official Languages: Arabic, Berber (also spoken are French and Darja, or Algerian Arabic)

-Government: Unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic (currently under the leadership of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad)

-Formed by the Zirid Dynasty in AD 973, declared independent from France July 5th, 1962

-Land Area: 919,595 square miles (10th largest nation in the world)

-Population: 43.6 million (2020 estimate, 32nd largest nation in the world)

-Religion: 97.9% Islam, 1.8% unaffiliated with any religion, 0.2% Christianity, 0.1% Judaism

-Drive on the right side of the road

A lot of Algerian music draws from the chaâbi musical genre, which is characterized by specified rhythms and lyrics in the form of Qacidate (popular poems) written in Arabic dialect. Folk music is also very popular, usually heard in styles of Bedouin, Kabyle, Rahaba, Tergui, and Sétif, which are each unique to their individual regions of the country. Modern music is definitely popular as well, especially Raï (popular folk music) and rap. Keeping all of that in mind, let's start listening!

Meli meli by Cheb Mami (written by M. Khelifati, C. Mami)

Cheb Mami is a perfect example of the Raï genre. Mami's career began in 1982, and he ended up gaining international recognition in the late 1990s when he appeared on the famous Sting track Desert Rose. Many Americans have since compared Mami and the Raï genre in general to popular rock & roll artists of the 50's and 60's, which isn't totally on base but fairly close. Meli meli was featured on Mami's 1998 album Les mille et un soleils du raï (The thousand and one suns of rai in English) and is super poppy and bubbly, and I felt it gave off a very colorful vibe. It would be super easy to dance to, no doubt, andI totally get why it's so popular. Unfortunately, I was unable to find an English translation of the lyrics, but still give it a listen.

Sobhan allah ya Itif by El Hadj Mohamed El Anka (written by M. Toumi)

El Anka was, and still is, widely considered to be Grand Master of the chaâbi genre as well as Andalussian classical music throughout his life and career. His musical career got its start in 1920 when he was thirteen years old, and from that point on he would study and practice and play, becoming nationally beloved and releasing around 130 records and writing roughly 360 songs before his death in 1978 at the age of 71. The version of Sobhan allah ya Itif I listened to is featured on the album Le grand Maître de la musique Algerienne, Vol. 1 (The Great Master of Algerian Music in English) that was compiled in 2015. I was shocked by how long the song was (just over 15 minutes!) but it never really got boring to me despite being a bit repetitive. This song alone was enough to convince me of his Grand Master status, for sure. Again, I was unable to find an English translation of the lyrics, but if you have the time during your day you should listen to this track - I actually worked out to it one day and it totally worked for that.

A Vava Inouva by Idir (written by M. Benhamadouche, A. Cherif)

Idir was a prominent Kabyle musician up until his death this past May. Throughout his 44 year career, he was a huge advocate of both the Kabyle and Berber cultures and making sure they were properly represented. Kabyle is both an ethnicity of northeastern Algerian citizens as well as the language they speak. Kabyle folk music is usually characterized by vocals with a rhythm section (comprised of tambourine, or t'bel, and frame drum, or bendir) and a melody section (comprised of ghaita, or bagpipe, and ajouag, or flute). A Vava Inouva doesn't have all of those components, but still maintains that folksy vibe to it. It's actually a lullaby that he initially sang in 1973 on a radio show and had no idea how popular it became until two years later when he finished his term in the military. I really enjoyed this song and thought it was really beautiful and calming to listen to. An English translation of the lyrics is below.

The grandfather, wrapped in his bathrobe, listening/His son, in his memory of yesterday, eating, turned/The daughter, behind the craft alone, weaving the loom/Family together, listen eagerly to stories she was telling them/La la la la la la la, family together/La la la la la la la, stories she was telling them/Please, unlock the door for me, O father Inouva/Make your bracelets shake, O my daughter Ghriva, ah/I'm scared, thte monster of the woods is here, O father Inouva/But I'm scared, too, O my daughter Ghriva, ah

Avec toi by Kenza Farah (written by K. Farah, P. Koeu)

Farah is a good representation of popular music in Algeria for sure. The 34-year-old artist has released several of her own albums, singles, and mixtapes as well as being featured on tracks with other well-known artists, including Idir that we talked about previously. Avec toi (With You in English), featured on Farah's 2012 album 4 Love, is a total party song, rife with all of the elements that we loved to hear in classic 2010's dance-pop and electronic music. She's the first of our Algerian artists listed here to sing in French - while French is still spoken in Algeria, she actually grew up in the French city of Marseille after being born in the Algerian city of Béjaïa. This was for sure a fun song to listen to and very easy to move around and dance to. An English translation of the lyrics is below.

At a glance/I knew it was him I was waiting for/When I get lost/He's the only one who knows where I'm going/So I get lost/In his arms, in his arms/You read in me/Like in an open book/With you, I'm no longer afraid of life/I see my future, I feel so invincible/With you, with you/With you, whatever they say/You are the one I choose, our differences unite us/With you, with you, with you/With you, with you, with you/With you, with you

C'est la vie by Khaled (written by K. Brahim)

Khaled is another great example of the Raï genre. Throughout his 36 year career, he's become beloved not only in his home nation of Algeria but internationally as well - fans of the 1997 film The Fifth Element (starring Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman) may recognize Khaled's song Alech Taadi which was featured on the soundtrack for the film. C'est la vie (It's Life in English) is one of Khaled's most popular songs, and I absolutely get why. This song admittedly grabbed me more than our other Raï song, Meli meli, because it's just so damn happy. It's a fist pumping, jumping around the room smiling like a crazy person song, and I'm not sure you can be in a bad mood during or after listening to it. A rough English translation of the lyrics is below.

Rani Mandem on Liam/No matter how far away you are/Rani Mandem on Liam/I am loyal to you/Oh, oh, the wound has to be washed away/Oh, oh, the evening will be beautiful, my love/And la la la/We will love each other, we will dance/Yes, it's life, la la la la la/Rec one/We will love each other, we will dance/Yes, it's life, la la la la la

Didi by Milk & Honey (written by K. Brahim)

Didi was a musical duo comprised of German singer Anne Ross and Algerian/French/German singer Manel Filali that was active from 2006-2010. During their 4 years together, they released one studio album and three singles that charted well in Europe. One of their post popular singles was Didi, a cover of one of Khaled's most famous songs, and I had a ball listening to it. It's another fun, poppy dance song that's easy to move to and got me to smile while listening to it. Milk & Honey's version of Didi includes some of the lyrics in English, which are listed below.

On a dark desert day, in a land far away/You took my heart, that's the price that I pay/Why'd you hurt me this way, wish you'd come back and stay/Just remember the promise we made/Didi, didi, didi, didi, zine di wah/Didi, didi, didi, didi, zine di wah/Didi was, didi, didi, di hazing didi di ya weeyeaheh

Kelbi Bel Hob by Mohamed Tahar Fergani (written by M. Fergani)

Fergani, nicknamed The Nightingale of Constantine, was a master of the Malouf style of music and well known for being one of a very few singers who would interpret musical compositions in four different octaves. His music was and still is very widely respected even after his death in 2016 at the age of 88. The version of Kelbi Bel Hob I listened to is incldued on the compilation album Algérie - 50 ans de musiques, 54 titrès originaux (Algeria - 50 years of music, 54 original titles in English) and is a little on the longer side at just over 7 minutes, but it was still very pleasant to listen to. Fergani had amazing control over his voice which as a vocalist I really respect. Unfortunately, this is another song I was unable to find an English translation for, but still recommend listening to.

Kassaman by National Anthems of the World Orchestra (written by M. Zakaria, M. Fawzi)

The national anthem of Algeria, translated in English to We Swear, was adopted in 1962 when Algeria gained its independence from France. With lyrics by Algerian poet and activist Moufdi Zakaria and music by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi, it's an undoubtedly patriotic sounding song with almost a militaristic march-y sound to it. An English translation of the lyrics is below.

We swear by the lightning that destroys/By the virtuous and fragrant blood/By the shining, fluttering banners/In the steep and majestic mountains/That we have risen to revolution in life or death/And we have resolved that Algeria shall live/So bear witness, bear witness, bear witness

Barra Barra by Rachid Taha (written by R. Taha)

Ok, this was probably my favorite song of the week because it was not what I was expecting at all. Taha wrote music inspired by both chaâbi and Raï music as well as influences from rock, rumba, electronica, pop, and techno. His career spanned 38 years and included both collaborative and solo efforts until his unexpected death at age 59 from a heart attack in 2018. Barra Barra has been popularly featured both on the soundtrack for the 2001 film Black Hawk Down (starring Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor) and in the trailer for the 2008 Ubisoft game Far Cry 2. I downloaded this song immediately after rlistennig to it because I liked sit so much - something about the classic rock sounding guitar mixed with the more traditional Algerian music really hit me. An English translation of the song is listed below.

Out, out, sadness, hate, and the reign of arbitrary/Out, out, destruction, jealousy, there is no trust left/Out, out, thirst and people are unlucky/Out, out, no honor, but oppression and slavery/Out, out, rivers were dried up and seas have ruined everything/Out, out, stars are switched off and the sun went down/Out, out, there is neither good, nor happiness, nor luck anymore/Out, out, there are no trees left and the birds stopped singing

Ghir Enta by Souad Massi (written by S. Massi)

Massi is another Kabyle artist currently based in Paris, France. She ended up having to leave Algeria due to threats to her personal safety due to being a part of the rock band Atakor that was known for its political outspokenness. Ghir Enta is one of her solo songs that showcases her talents both on vocals acoustic guitar and I really, really enjoyed it. You can hear influences from country music mixed in with the traditional Kabyle style which is interesting and actually pretty awesome. An English translation of the lyrics is below.

Keep in mind, who forbids you/I chose you, my heart chose you and did not hurt you/Today, you are seen with me, Daa/This is the world, the sweet and bitter around the world/Other than you, not you, but you who entered my heart/Other than you, not you, but you who inhabit my heart

Hopefully you got both some new worldly knowledge as well as some new music to listen to from the list today. See ya'll next week!