El Hachemi Guerouabi
Encyclopedia
El-Hadj El Hachmi Guerouabi (born January 6, 1938, in Algiers
, Algeria
- died July 17, 2006 in Zeralda
, Algeria
) was an Algerian singer and composer
of Chaâbi and one of the Grand Masters of the Algiers-based Chaâbi music.
He was born in El Mouradia (Algiers
) and grew up in Bélouizdad
(formerly Belcourt). Two passions occupied Guerouabi's childhood: Football and music. Being a good footballer he played with La Redoute AC football club until 1952. By then he had developed a special interest to music; in particular the music of El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, M'rizek and Hssissen.
His win in the El Arbi Music-Hall contest helped him join the Opera of Algiers in 1953, where he was engaged in music but also played several theatrical roles including the famous Haroun Errachid.
After the independence of Algeria from France in 1962, Guerouabi saw the invasion of foreign music, especially from Europe and Egypt, as a threat to the traditional Algerian music. He tries to attract a younger audience by introducing fundamental changes in his compositions that will later make him a distinctive and Master of Chaâbi.
Guerouabi continued his innovations and became an icon of the Algerian popular music. He was invited to perform in various occasions by prestigious institutions and notable individuals, which added to his popularity and respect among Chaâbi fans.
In 1987, Guerouabi went on a pilgrimage in Mecca (Saudi Arabia
) and gained the title of “El-Hadj”. He moved to Paris
(France
) in the late 1990s for medical treatment for severe diabetes, where he settled until his death in 2006. Despite his illness, Guerouabi continued to produce music, play in concerts around the world and play at weddings, but in February 2005 he had undergone a surgery that resulted in the amputation of his leg and his decision to quit music. However, due to a growing demand from his homeland, he gave his last concert in Algiers on July 4th, 2005 in front of a very large audience. He was admitted to hospital again in July 2006, one year exactly after his last public appearance, after a heart attack which cost him his life. El Hachmi Guerouabi died on July 17th, 2006 in Zeralda near Algiers and left behind him a large repertoire of music, a musical renaissance but most importantly a remarkable contribution to the vulgarisation of Chaâbi.
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
- died July 17, 2006 in Zeralda
Zéralda
Zeralda is a suburb of the city of Algiers in northern Algeria....
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
) was an Algerian singer and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of Chaâbi and one of the Grand Masters of the Algiers-based Chaâbi music.
He was born in El Mouradia (Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
) and grew up in Bélouizdad
Mohamed Belouizdad
Mohamed Belouizdad, formerly Hamma-Anassers is a quarter of Algiers, Algeria in Algiers Province.Important places in Mohamed Belouizdad are:*Hotel Sofitel*National Library*Jardin d'essai*Stade 20 Août 1955...
(formerly Belcourt). Two passions occupied Guerouabi's childhood: Football and music. Being a good footballer he played with La Redoute AC football club until 1952. By then he had developed a special interest to music; in particular the music of El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka, M'rizek and Hssissen.
His win in the El Arbi Music-Hall contest helped him join the Opera of Algiers in 1953, where he was engaged in music but also played several theatrical roles including the famous Haroun Errachid.
After the independence of Algeria from France in 1962, Guerouabi saw the invasion of foreign music, especially from Europe and Egypt, as a threat to the traditional Algerian music. He tries to attract a younger audience by introducing fundamental changes in his compositions that will later make him a distinctive and Master of Chaâbi.
Guerouabi continued his innovations and became an icon of the Algerian popular music. He was invited to perform in various occasions by prestigious institutions and notable individuals, which added to his popularity and respect among Chaâbi fans.
In 1987, Guerouabi went on a pilgrimage in Mecca (Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
) and gained the title of “El-Hadj”. He moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) in the late 1990s for medical treatment for severe diabetes, where he settled until his death in 2006. Despite his illness, Guerouabi continued to produce music, play in concerts around the world and play at weddings, but in February 2005 he had undergone a surgery that resulted in the amputation of his leg and his decision to quit music. However, due to a growing demand from his homeland, he gave his last concert in Algiers on July 4th, 2005 in front of a very large audience. He was admitted to hospital again in July 2006, one year exactly after his last public appearance, after a heart attack which cost him his life. El Hachmi Guerouabi died on July 17th, 2006 in Zeralda near Algiers and left behind him a large repertoire of music, a musical renaissance but most importantly a remarkable contribution to the vulgarisation of Chaâbi.
Discography
- Le Chaabi des Maîtres (1994)
- Salem Maghreb (2001)
- Le grand Maître du chaabi rend hommage au pays (2002)