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Rachid Taha
Mixing Algerian music with rock and electronic sounds on Ya Rayah, Barra Barra and Rock el Casbah.
Ya Rayah · Barra Barra
- Born
- 18 September 1958
- Birthplace
- Sig, Algeria
- Died
- 12 September 2018
More people
Rachid Taha
Rachid Taha developed an abrasive, restless musical identity between Algeria and France. He challenged exclusion while drawing freely on North African song and rock.
Early life
Algerian roots
Grew up listening to music from the Maghreb before moving to France with his family.
Working and DJing
Held industrial jobs while developing an eclectic approach to club music.
Career
- 1980s
Carte de Séjour
Fronted the Lyon band whose name referred to a residence permit.
- 1991
Solo career
Released Barbès after the band's breakup.
- 1990s
Electronic collaborations
Worked with producer Steve Hillage and revisited Algerian repertoire.
- 2000s–2010s
International performance
Continued touring and recording across musical boundaries.
Selected work
Ya Rayah
His version brought Dahmane El Harrachi's migration song to new audiences.
Barra Barra
A forceful track from Made in Medina.
Rock el Casbah
Reworked the Clash song in Arabic on Tékitoi.
Beyond music
Anti-racism
Used interviews and music to challenge exclusion faced by immigrants in France.
Memoir
Told his story in Rock la Casbah with Dominique Lacout in 2008.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Radio France: Rachid Taha ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. CC BY-SA 2.5 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
