Algerian châabi legend Hachemi Guerouabi dies
2006-07-20
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.
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بوسكندر Posted 2006-10-30
Could you provide web addresses of singers Al Hashemi and Kamal Massoudi. I like to hear their songs!
baghdadi abdelkader Posted 2006-11-04
I want to receive the autobiography of late Haj Anka (Algerian singer)
سارة Posted 2006-11-10
I need the biography of any pop Algerian singer!
لنذير حليتيم Posted 2006-12-17
I need songs of the late Haj Mohammed Anka!
هيثم Posted 2007-02-06
I am looking for the autobiography of late Haj Mohamed Anka!
ANIS 92 Posted 2007-02-20
God bless you Chikhe el Hachemi Guerouabi. I can only remember having had very good times with your music, not to mention Sidali Nitche/Nabil/and the twin brothers Hassan and Housin, of course.
gawgaw Posted 2007-04-08
I want the life of the popular singer Haj Mohamed El Anka
عبد الكريم Posted 2007-04-14
Praise be to God thanks to God there's no God but Allah you'll find it in heaven inchallah
محمد Posted 2007-04-24
I want information about the Mandoul instrument
hacenfou Posted 2007-04-26
thank you
ابوبكر Posted 2007-08-17
Thank you for your interest in the great musician Hachemi Guerouabi who was very conservative in his singing.
طاهر Posted 2007-10-18
Salam alaikoum, God bless you singer of Moul Ennif, may God protect you inchallah and have mercy on the king of the Chaabi music. Please my brother if you have the song 'Ana Nhabek Sara' please send it to me or enter it here and I'll be very grateful inchallah, but I forgot the name of the singer. Let's always be at the service of the Algerian art and Algeria. Salam alaikoum.
مصطفى Posted 2007-11-13
El Hachimi Kerouabi is one of the great singers of Chaabi music in Algeria. Thank you.
SABRINE Posted 2007-11-15
Hello, I like this website. It is nice to find our Algerian singers on the web: it allows us to learn more about our culture. -Goodbye
rachid Posted 2007-12-09
Thank you for everything you are doing for Algerian châabi. I love listening from Paris to our cheikh, Kamel Bourdib Rachid.
حريز Posted 2007-12-30
May the Mercy of the Lord be upon you! 25
محمد Posted 2008-01-02
I want a site where I can download popular songs.
chahd1995 Posted 2008-01-21
Salam alaikoum. I thank you so much for the site.
david Posted 2008-01-31
An excellent site.
louma_ch Posted 2008-02-08
May God rest the soul of our master Hachemi and thank you for your interest.
OUSSAMA Posted 2008-02-24
The program is quite unfortunate, but it has all the information.
adel19a Posted 2008-05-01
I want the song of the Moroccan popular singer Abdelmalek, the title of the song is 'Kssidat Sidna Youssef Allih Salam' (The poem of our master Youssef, peace upon him).
mohamed Posted 2008-05-05
I would like to know about the life and autobiography of Mohamed A'anqa and his songs.
تهت Posted 2008-05-15
I want to hear a song sung by Hachemi Guerbaoui.
ايمان Posted 2008-07-19
Salam alaikum. I am very proud of Algerian pop singing. Thank for this site. I ask you for sites to listen and download Algerian pop songs. Thank you.
حنونة Posted 2008-07-19
May God rest the soul of the Haj. He was and is still the greatest and best singer to my heart. My life's wish was to attend one of Haj's ceremonies. But he died before I fulfilled that wish. Oh Lord rest his soul. I call upon everyone who loves him to pray for his mercy and that he goes to paradise God willing.
maami Posted 2008-07-30
Chaabi has been on the road to disappearing ever since the death of Kamal Messaoudi. Hadj Guerouabi's chaabi is completely degraded.
saouda Posted 2008-07-31
May God rest his soul. I hope that his fate is to paradise.
bachir Posted 2008-08-03
I think that your site is great! I would like the song by Hadj Hachemi Guerouabi, God have mercy on him (mir el ghiwane). I would be very appreciative. –Thank you
خالد Posted 2008-08-17
May God reward you for this site. May God rest the soul of Haj Hachemi Guerbaoui and introduce him in His paradise. Salam alikum.
اسماء Posted 2008-09-14
Popular music is one of the most sublime arts in Algeria. We can mix the old type by adding a modern flavour.
rachid Posted 2008-09-15
Salam Alaikoum, Thank you for this website. Hadj El Hachemi forever! God willing, may God bless you!
charaf Posted 2008-09-20
I want the popular song "Kassida Sidna Youssef" by the singer Abdelmalek.
NASSIM Posted 2008-09-25
May God rest his soul...
nouredine Posted 2008-10-04
Thank you Raouf Adable Layane. I have nothing to say. I am speechless. There is no other God but Allah, Mohamed is the messenger of God. What can I say and all the fans have said everything. But I also have an opinion. May God rest the soul of the nightingale. My brother, El Anka said if the bulbul is absent, he is replaced by the nightingale. But the question is who replaces the nightingale when he disappears. I want a reply. Noureddine, Kouchie, Annaba.
جزائري Posted 2008-10-23
By God, well done. Keep on reminding us of the past. Returning to origins is a virtue.
boubaker Posted 23 days ago
Thank you. But I want the songs of Kerbaoui.
khalil Posted 5 days ago
I want the saong "Chamaa" (candle) by the late Kamal Messaoudi. Thank you. Best wishes.
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