Abderrahmane Abdelli
Encyclopedia
Abderrahmane Abdelli is an Algeria
n-born author
, composer
, and singer songwriter
known for mixing the traditional North African music of his homeland with modern sounds.
in the Great Kabylie, Algeria
, during the Algerian War of Independence
. His family was displaced by the bombing of their village, Kennour, part of the Tizi Ouzou Province
, by the French airforce. After the war, Abdelli's family settled in the coastal town of Dellys
. As a boy, Abdelli constructed his first guitar
out of an empty oil can, a plank of wood and fishing line. After learning to play the guitar, Abdelli was introduced to the mandolin
by Chaabi
master, Chaïd Moh-Esguir.
Abdelli made his musical debut in Dellys, Kabylie, during the 1974 Algerian Independence festival. He won several contests in Algeria
for amateur singers. Abdelli produced his first album in 1984, but it saw little success. Two years later, he released an album that sold 12,000 copies, but never received payment from his record company. Abdelli produced a couple of albums in Algeria, but moved to Belgium
in 1984. It was there "he met producer Thierry Van Roy, who was so fascinated with Abdelli's music that he spent two years exploring the roots of the Berbers' musical tradition at the University of Algiers." Since 1986 he has made his home in Brussels
, Belgium.
Abdelli's most popular albums are New Moon and Among Brothers He has performed at major festivals in Europe, including WOMAD
and the 0110 concert in Ghent. In addition to Europe he has toured in England, the USA and Canada.
n influence. As stated by World Music Central:
Abdelli has collaborated with musicians from Europe
and South America
, often incorporating instruments such as the cajón
(Peru), the tormento, the quena
(Chilean), and the bandura
(Ukrainian).
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...
n-born author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, 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...
, and singer songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
known for mixing the traditional North African music of his homeland with modern sounds.
Biography
Abdelli was born in Mechta Behalil, a hamletHamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the Great Kabylie, 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...
, during the Algerian War of Independence
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
. His family was displaced by the bombing of their village, Kennour, part of the Tizi Ouzou Province
Tizi Ouzou Province
Tizi Ouzou is a province in Algeria, named after its capital.-Administrative divisions:The province is divided into 21 districts , which are further divided into 67 communes or municipalities.-Districts:# Aïn El Hammam...
, by the French airforce. After the war, Abdelli's family settled in the coastal town of Dellys
Dellys
Dellys is a small coastal town in northern Algeria, almost due north of Tizi-Ouzou and just east of the river Sebaou. It is notable for an Ottoman-era casbah, two colonial-era lighthouses , and some beaches; the principal activities of the area are fishing and farming. In Roman times, it was...
. As a boy, Abdelli constructed his first guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
out of an empty oil can, a plank of wood and fishing line. After learning to play the guitar, Abdelli was introduced to the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
by Chaabi
Chaabi (Algeria)
Chaabi is a traditional music of Algiers , formalized by El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka.Originally from the Casbah, Chaabi first appeared in the late 19th century, inspired by vocal traditions of Arab Andalusian music, also the home of Flamenco music...
master, Chaïd Moh-Esguir.
Abdelli made his musical debut in Dellys, Kabylie, during the 1974 Algerian Independence festival. He won several contests in 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...
for amateur singers. Abdelli produced his first album in 1984, but it saw little success. Two years later, he released an album that sold 12,000 copies, but never received payment from his record company. Abdelli produced a couple of albums in Algeria, but moved to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1984. It was there "he met producer Thierry Van Roy, who was so fascinated with Abdelli's music that he spent two years exploring the roots of the Berbers' musical tradition at the University of Algiers." Since 1986 he has made his home in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium.
Abdelli's most popular albums are New Moon and Among Brothers He has performed at major festivals in Europe, including WOMAD
World of Music, Arts and Dance
WOMAD is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world's many forms of music, arts and dance.-History:...
and the 0110 concert in Ghent. In addition to Europe he has toured in England, the USA and Canada.
Influences
Abdelli's music reflects a heavy AlgeriaAlgeria
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...
n influence. As stated by World Music Central:
Abdelli's lyrics express strong and poetic images of his culture which is threatened from all sides. He expresses himself essentially by symbols which are parts of his traditional culture. He tries to make known the ancient Berber culture which, by its tolerance and openness, is an example to follow in our troubled world.
Abdelli has collaborated with musicians from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, often incorporating instruments such as the cajón
Cajón
A cajón is a box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru, played by slapping the front face with the hands.-Origins and evolution:...
(Peru), the tormento, the quena
Quena
The quena is the traditional flute of the Andes. Usually made of bamboo or wood, it has 6 finger holes and one thumb hole and is open on both ends. To produce sound, the player closes the top end of the pipe with the flesh between his chin and lower lip, and blows a stream of air downward, along...
(Chilean), and the bandura
Bandura
Bandura refers to a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument. It combines elements of a box zither and lute, as well as its lute-like predecessor, the kobza...
(Ukrainian).
Discography
- New MoonNew Moon (Abderrahmane Abdelli album)New Moon is a World album released in 1995 by Algerian composer and singer songwriter Abderrahmane Abdelli. The album was released by Real World Records....
(1995) - Au-delà de GibraltarAu-delà de GibraltarAu-delà de Gibraltar is a world music album released in 2000 by Algerian composer and singer songwriter Abderrahmane Abdelli.Au-delà de Gibraltar is the second major release by Abderrahmane Abdelli, an Algerian-born musician living in Brussels, Belgium...
(2000) - Among BrothersAmong BrothersAmong Brothers is a World album released in 2003 by Algerian composer and singer-songwriter Abderrahmane Abdelli. The album was released by Real World Records....
(2003)
Band members
- Roberto Lagos (charango, guitar, bombo)
- Said Mohammed (ney)
- Jazouli Azzedine (darbuka, tar, bendir)
- Louis Ivan Leiva Alguinta (Latin percussion)
- Abdelmajid Makrai Lamarti (violin)
- Thierry Van Roy (keyboards)