Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The ceasefire between Iran and "Israel" has officially begun.
Sirens sound in northern occupied Palestine.
Israeli media: Iran used missiles that have never been launched before in its latest attacks.
Israeli military command reports the detection of a fifth launch from Iran.
Israeli media: The missile struck Beer al-Sabe' just 20 seconds after sirens ended.
Sirens sound in West Bank settlements, occupied al-Quds,
For the fourth time in an hour, sirens blast in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas.
Israeli media: A very difficult morning in "Israel".
Israeli media: 11 settlers have been killed in the strike on Bir al-Sabe'.
Israeli media: One settler dead in a shelter in Ramat Gan.

Algeria: Rai music makes UN cultural charts

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Dec 2022 08:18
  • 4 Shares
2 Min Read

Algeria's Rai music deals with topics like love, liberation, despair, and the struggle against social pressures.

  • x
  • Cheb Khaled (Archive)
    Cheb Khaled 

Algeria's Rai music was inscribed on the United Nations' list of intangible cultural heritage. "New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage List: Rai, a popular folk song of #Algeria," the UN cultural agency UNESCO tweeted.

Rai, whose biggest artists include Cheb Khaled and Cheb Mami, originated in Algeria during the latter decades of French colonial authority, dealing with topics like love, liberation, despair, and the struggle against social pressures.

🔴 BREAKING

New inscription on the #IntangibleHeritage List: Raï, popular folk song of #Algeria 🇩🇿.

Congratulations! 👏

ℹ️ https://t.co/n5nd2IfvLJ #LivingHeritage pic.twitter.com/OMVUx3K6Fb

— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) December 1, 2022

It began as a rural art form, with singers accompanied by a traditional band performing poetic texts in vernacular Arabic.

However, it had a spike in popularity beginning in the 1980s, centered on the western city of Oran.

Related News

Group of Friends slams Israeli strikes on Iran, UN Charter violation

UN accuses 'Israel' of blocking majority of humanitarian requests

In 1985, the city held Algeria's first Rai festival, and the genre soon spread to France, which has a substantial Algerian diaspora.

This catapulted vocalists like Cheikha Rimitti to global stardom and drew the attention of big record firms.

Cheb Khaled became the first singer from North Africa's Maghreb region to reach the global Top 50 with his song "Didi" in 1992.

Classic song of the day :

Cheb Khaled - "Didi" 🇩🇿🎶

Clip
👇👇https://t.co/lRnk8cMlpa pic.twitter.com/KuawYOHzWJ

— WANAMédias (@WANAMedias) February 25, 2019

However, in the same year, extremists assassinated several Rai singers, including Cheb Hasni, the star of "sentimental Rai."

In the early 2000s, Rai began to battle for its position among other genres such as hip hop and R&B, while also being plagued by scandal with Cheb Mami's conviction for domestic violence.

However, it received a fresh lease on life this year with the remarkable success of Franco-Algerian DJ Snake's "Disco Maghreb," a tribute to the iconic Oran record label at the core of the genre.

  • Algeria
  • Rai
  • UN cultural charts
  • UN

Most Read

Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025
Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

  • Palestine
  • 18 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters upon arriving at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, N.J., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Politics

Trump lashes out at media outlets for downplaying Iran strike impact

ap
Politics

Turkey denies role in US-Israeli strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Iran targets US air base in Qatar with 'destructive' missile strike
MENA

Iran retaliates, targets US air base in Qatar with missiles

Demonstrators hold up a banner during a protest by Palestine Action group in London, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Politics

UK signals 'terror' ban on 'Palestine Action', sparking protests

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS