Raï, a popular Algerian song, is played, sung and danced in the Great West of the country and touches on topics of social life including longing, disappointment and hope, the freedom to feel, the difficulty of living conditions, denouncing social coercion and standstill historical situations. Raï traces its origin in the eighteenth century from the rural Bedoui genre, singing the poetry of Chiîr el melhoun accompanied by the sounds of the Gasba (flutes) and the Guellal (percussion). At the turn of the twentieth century, women earned acclaim as authors, performers and musicians and became part of the genre which progressively starts to embrace modern instruments (trumpets, guitars, accordion, rhythm boxes, etc.) and new texts. Raï goes beyond the Algerian borders and holds it place on major international stages. Its message of freedom and transgression which has become universal is carried by young women and men who sing and dance for the youth of the world.
Lire la présentation de l’UNESCO https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ra-popular-folk-song-of-algeria-01894?RL=01894
watch the video HERE