Rachid Taha

Rachid Taha was born in 1958 in Oran, Algeria, during the Algerian Revolution. His father was a communist activist, which shaped some of Taha's early outlook. In the early 1980s, he formed the band Carte de Séjour with Khaled and Mustapha Naïma, blending Algerian Rai with punk and electronic elements. Their self-titled 1983 album established them as a distinctive voice in what was sometimes called Algerian rock.

After leaving Carte de Séjour in 1989, Taha began a solo career. His 1993 album 'Ya Rayah' became an international hit, featuring songs like 'Barra Barra' and 'Rock El Casbah' that mixed traditional North African sounds with rock energy.

Taha's later work included albums like 'Diwan' in 1998 and 'Tekitoi' in 2004, which contained tracks such as 'Tékitoi?' and 'Menfi'. He continued performing with a band that included musicians like guitarist Ahmed Mouici and drummer Hakim Hamadouche. His final studio album 'Bonjour' was released in 2009.