Algerian châabi legend Hachemi Guerouabi dies

20/07/2006

Hachemi Guerouabi, one of the great masters of châabi music, died on Monday (17 July) at Zeralda Hospital in Algiers.

By Mohand Ouali for Magharebia in Algiers – 20/07/06

[Getty Images] Guerrouabi

Algerian national radio reported châabi singing legend Hachemi Guerouabi died Monday (17 July) at Zeralda Hospital in Algiers after being admitted a day earlier in a coma following a heart attack.

The 68-year-old remained in stable condition during his first few hours in the hospital, but his condition rapidly deteriorated later.

Guerouabi was born on 6 January 1938 in El-Madania, a working class district of Algiers. While he played football, music was his real passion. His love for châabi (popular folk songs) developed after he met some masters of the genre. Hadj M'hmed El Anka and Hadj M'rizek performed in cafés of throughout Algiers, especially in the kasbah.

Guerouabi's tenor voice soon attracted attention and he was recruited into the Opéra d'Alger in 1953 by famous artist Mahieddine Bachetarzi. It was there that he distinguished himself with his locally-flavoured song "Magrounet Lhouadjeb" (The Girl with the Arched Eyebrows).

"Inhabited by châabi", as he liked to describe himself, Guerouabi was a great success as a singer. "Youm lekhmis", "Bellah ya bni elouacham", "El harraz" and "Youm El Djemaa" were among the songs that propelled him to his place among the great masters of châabi.

In the 1970s, Guerouabi adopted a successful lighter style with tunes such as "Megouani sahran", "El barrah", "Sbayat zoudj", "Chems el barda", "Nafsi ouana moulaha", "Goulou lenass", "Djorha", "Hadmet", and "Elwarka".

With the influx of Western and Egyptian commercial music in the Maghreb, Guerouabi knew he had to distinguish himself to attract Algeria's youth. Guerouabi introduced influential changes to the châabi genre.

Known as an innovator, Guerouabi had some conservative critics. He built his reputation on having his own personal touch, revitalising traditional music with his own distinct style and smooth voice. His music crossed national boundaries, leading to him releasing CD in France in the 1990s.

Despite his fragile health, Guerouabi gave several concerts in recent years in Algeria and abroad.

His death marks the passing of one of the great masters of châabi song. A solemn tribute was paid to Guerouabi on Tuesday before he was buried at El Madania Cemetery in Algiers.