algerian

Souad Massi (Kabyle: Suɛad Masi, Arabic: سعاد ماسي) (born 23rd August 1972), is an Algerian of Kabyle descent, singer, songwriter and guitarist. She began her career performing in the Algerian political rock band Atakor, before leaving the country following a series of death threats. In 1999, Massi performed at the Femmes d'Algerie concert in Paris, which led to a recording contract with Island Records.

Read more about Souad Massi on Last.fm.

rai musician Khaled (formerly known as Cheb Khaled) is a phenomenon in the Arabic world, with a popularity that has reached almost surreal proportions. In 1992 his monster hit single 'Didi' sold over a million copies in European, arabic and Asian countries, and made him more popular than Michael Jackson in India. This year he was also elevated to the status of nationwide celebrity and ambassador for the Arab minority in France, when his first French-language single, "Aicha," put his brand of rai--a blend of traditional algerian music and more Western styles such as soul...

Algeria’s Mehdi Haddab has radically transformed the image of the oud by plugging in and amplifying the ancient fretless lute, bringing rock’n’roll attitude to an instrument at the core of traditional Arabic music. With bassist Pascal Teillet and beat mistress Hermione Frank, Haddab references everything from the Cure and the Chemical Brothers to Algerian rai.