Chaabi | |
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![]() The chaabi orchestra El Gusto in 2018 | |
Native name | الشعبي əš-šaʿabī |
Stylistic origins | Arab-Andalusian music |
Cultural origins | Algiers (Algeria) |
Typical instruments |
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Culture of Algeria |
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Chaabi is a traditional music of Algiers (Algeria), formalized by El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka.
Originally from the Casbah, the music known as chaabi belongs to a recent tradition. It emerged during the 1930s, and has remained popular to this day. [1] Inspired by vocal traditions of Andalusi music, such as muwashshah, using its modes and rhythm. Chaabi means 'of the people', and it is very definitely the people's music, even in a country where raï rules. [2]
A typical song features mournful, Arabic/Berber vocals, set against an orchestral backdrop of a dozen musicians, with violins and mandolins swelling and falling to a piano melody and the clap of percussion beats. Chaabi is part of a deeply conservative tradition and its lyrics often carrying a strong moral message.[ citation needed ]
At first Chaabi remained a scandalous genre, thriving behind closed doors or in specific locations called "Mahchachat" (cannabis dens), [3] where the admirer of this music would go to drink coffee, tea or smoke. By the late 1950s, however, it had become the people's music, played at weddings and religious festivals. Its main exponents included Oran-based singer Lili Labassi , El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, the father of Chaabi, and Dahmane El Harrachi, composer of the classic tale of emigration "Ya Rayah". [4]
In 2011, Safinez Bousbia directed a documentary on chaabi music. It took over seven years to make, facilitate and track the reunion of the Jewish and Muslim members of a chaabi group from colonial Algiers known as El Gusto. [5]
The best known chaabi singers are as follows:
What distinguishes this Algerian Chaabi are the sounds and poems, the sound represents a sad memory of times gone by or a heart-warming romantic emotion or sessions with friends or memories, which gives a beautiful background to the country of Algeria, and the words create wonderful pictures, today there are hundreds of music singers who are inspired by these Beautiful music that can be heard all over the world, and it is music that describes the reality of life and even includes tales and stories such as the stories of the prophet Mohamed and the religiouses.
Algerian music is virtually synonymous with Raï among foreigners; the musical genre has achieved great popularity in France, Spain and other parts of Europe. For several centuries, Algerian music was dominated by styles inherited from Al-Andalus, eventually forming a unique North African twist on these poetic forms. Algerian music came to include suites called nuubaat. Later derivatives include rabaab and hawzii.
El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, also known as Hadj Muhammed Al Anka, El-Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, was considered a Grand Master of Andalusian classical music and Algerian chaâbi music.
Hacène Zermani, known by the stage name Takfarinas, is an Algerian Kabyle Yal musician. Takfarinas took his surname from the ancient warrior of North Africa Tacfarinas who fought against the presence of the Romans in Algeria. Since 1979 Takfarinas has lived in France. However, his songs promote and celebrate the Kabyle culture into which he was born. Takfarinas is perhaps best known for his voice which covers a wide range and the 'takfa' which is based on a traditional lute like instrument which he has modified by adding a second neck. Each neck provides a distinct sound, one neck is feminine and the other masculine. Nowadays the takfa has been replaced by an electric half-drum mandole. Like the takfa this has two fingerboards. The advantage of this new instrument is that it is able to create the large concert sound which he now needs.
"Ya Rayah" is an Algerian chaâbi song written and performed in 1973 by Dahmane El Harrachi. Up until the past 15 years this song was known to be Dahman El Harrachi's original song and in the Chaâbi/Andalous tradition of Algiers. This song is a ballad of the traveler, the exiled, the longing to come back, the immigrant, the "wanderin' star", etc. hence its universal appeal.
Sultana Daoud was an Algerian Jewish singer, who helped preserve Arab-Andalus music, as well as introducing the genre to European audiences.
Chaabi, also known as Chaâbi, Sha-bii, or Sha'bii meaning "folk", refers to different music genres in North Africa such as Algerian chaabi, Moroccan chaabi and Egyptian Shaabi.
Sheikh Hamada was an Algerian singer. He was one of the founders of the gasba music.
Abdelkader Chaou is an Algerian musician who is well known in Algeria for his own style of chaabi music, both as a singer and a mondol virtuoso. He is considered important enough as a musician that he was recognized nationally at a tribute concert in 2013, an event that was a "tribute from his peers for a rich career."
The Algerian mandole is a steel-string fretted instrument resembling an elongated mandolin, widely used in Algerian music such as Chaabi, Kabyle music and Nuubaat.
Hsissen was an Algerian singer.
El Kettar Cemetery is one of the most famous cemeteries in Algeria. It is situated in a suburb of the city of Algiers in the commune of Oued Koriche. It opened in 1838 replacing the cemetery of Sidi Abderrahmane destroyed in 1830. It was previously known as Dar El Ghrib since foreigners of the city's limit were buried there. The current name, El Kettar, is due to the distillation of jasmine in the Bridja, a funeral monument dating from the Ottoman era. It was built on a steep hill cemetery, because at the time of colonization, the French authorities forbade Muslims to bury their dead in flat terrain.
Khelifa Belkacem was an Algerian singer.
Hadj Menouar was an Algerian singer.
Hadj M'rizek was an Algerian songwriter, lyricist, composer, poet and painter.
Mustapha Skandrani, was an Algerian pianist, performer of chaâbi music.
Ouled EL Bahdja was a supporters' group of USM Alger football fans established in the 1990s by a group of fans from Casbah. Members were known for chanting songs in support of their club, USM Alger. Members wished to remain anonymous, and refused public appearance and media interviews. The group was officially disbanded in 2022, citing problems and harassment facing its members.
Mohamed Rouane is an Algerian musician and recording artist, well known in his own country for his performances of flamenco and "Casbah-style jazz" and especially for his use of the mondol.
Zawiyet Sidi Amar Cherif, or Zawiyet Sidi Daoud, is a zawiya school located in Boumerdès Province in Algeria.