Filed under: Algeria
Brothers Rachid and Fethi Baba Ahmed were from the Northwestern town of Tlemcen in Algeria.
They formed their first band in the 1960’s, which was called The Vultures. Althought I have been unable to find any recordings by the band, they were supposed more Western styled rock ‘n’ roll.
After The Vultures, they released a few records as Rachid et Fethi (here’s one other that I know of), and made a number of appearances performing on Algerian television in the 1970’s.
Since that time, Rachid and Fethi became the most well known Raï producers in Algeria. They openned one of the first 24 track studios in the country, which is in the town of Oran. They were the first to introduce the synthesizer and drum machine into Raï in 1982, which would galvanize that music’s signature sound.
Sadly, Rachid Baba Ahmed was killed on 15 February 1995 in his car with shots from a submachine gun in Oran.
Thanks to Anis Bousbia for his help.
Catalog number 28846 Editions Rally of Tlemcen, Algeria. No release date given.
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UPDATE: 05/27/23 This song – as well as it’s flip side – can be found on the Sublime Frequencies compilation 1970’s Algerian Folk And Pop. You can also find one of their other records that has eluded me for ages – the “Youk Baba Jeïm” / “Maghboun” single – over at Gary Sullivan‘s Arabic Singles Going Steady blog.
Filed under: Algeria
Les Abranis (a.k.a. El Abranis) was founded in Algeria by Karim Abranis in 1967.
Karim, as well as his bandmates Shamy Elbaz, Chemini Abdelkader, Arezki Barroudi and Hachemi Bellali were of the Amazigh ethnic group of Northwest Africa and they sang in the Tamazight language.
In 1973, Abranis went to Algiers to take part in the first “National Festival of the Song” and won the grand price for that year. Soon after, they had an appearance on Algerian television, and were popular across Algerian. They even porduced two Scopitone music videos for both songs from their first single.
Karim Abranis still performs in and around Northern Africa and Europe. He even has a website, with more information and pictures: Abranis.com.
Thank you to Anis Bousbia for the additional information.
Catalog number BEP 115 on Bordj el Fren of France. There is no release date given, but judging from the information on the Abranis website, this was released between 1973 and 1978.
Radiodiffusion Internasionaal Annexe 