The Algerian singer, Rachid Taha, is to perform at the closing show of the 9th festival of Gnawa in Essaouira (June 22-25).
Arab singer, is a polite way of describing a man who is noted for being something of a political punk-rocker. He looks somewhat like an early clone of Joe Cocker.
Unlike the other artists who have taken the traditional sounds of the Middle East and mixed them with western sounds, Taha created a true fusion between rai and rock and other world music styles and turned his music into more aggressive sounds, since he denounces discrimination and extremism in his songs.
Taha was born in 1958 in Oran, Algeria. His family moved to Lyon, France in the late 1960s.
The artist experienced there discrimination and marginalization, like most Algerian immigrants who were living in France. Taha worked in a series of menial jobs, like dishwashing and factory work.
He started his music career as the leader of the French rock band “Carte de Séjour” (Residence permit) in the 1980s.
Carte de Séjour was a success for Taha as it followed the French tradition of mixing radical politics with pop music. Taha's group used their Arab rock to describe the immigrant experience in France.
Even after the breaking up of his group in 1989, he continued his musical career defending democracy, tolerance and altruism and denouncing racism and discrimination.
Politically-engaged, Taha released several albums, from more explicitly political combinations of rock and rai (Barbes) to updated versions of older Algerian songs (Diwan) to a fusion between other world cultures and dance music (Ole Ole).
Essaouira can expect a great show.
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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