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Independence & Modern Algeria
Cheb Khaled
Intellectuals & Culture
Poets & ArtistsBorn 1960Oran / West
“He took raï out of Oran's bars and onto the world's stages.”
Historical significance
He is the most internationally famous voice of Algerian raï and a cultural ambassador of his hometown.
Made raï the default global sound of Algerian youth and diaspora identity.
Their story
From the streets of Oran, Khaled Hadj Brahim helped reinvent raï music, turning a once-marginal urban style into a global phenomenon that made Algerian sounds dance across continents.
Did you know?
His song "Aïcha" became a hit across Europe in the late 1990s.