Dahmane El Harrachi, born Abderrahmane Amrani on July 7, 1926, in El-Biar, a suburb of Algiers, was a revered Algerian Chaabi music singer, songwriter, and mandola player whose influential work left a lasting imprint on Algerian culture. He is most renowned for his classic song "Ya Rayah," an anthem that captures the experience of homesickness and the pain of emigration—a theme resonant with many North Africans.

El Harrachi's music was characterized by its poignant lyricism and soul-stirring melodies, encapsulating the trials and tribulations of everyday life. His songs often grappled with thematic elements such as emigration, social injustice, and love. Through his music, he became a voice for the marginalized and an emblem of Algerian identity, especially amongst the immigrant communities in France where he moved in 1949 and lived for many years. Despite passing away in a tragic car accident in 1980, Dahmane El Harrachi's legacy endures through his vast discography, which features notable albums and compilations such as "Chaabi Essentiel," "Rah ellil," and "Si' Rashed." His music has been widely anthologized, as seen in releases like "Anthologie, Vol. 4," "Anthology, Vol. 6," and "Anthologie, Vol. 7," ensuring the continued appreciation of his artistry for generations to come.

Genres

Algerian Folk

Belly Dance

Chaabi Algerien

Rai

Related Artists

El Hachemi Guerouabi

Kamel Messaoudi

Amar Ezzahi

Baaziz

El Hadj Mohamed El Anka

Abdelkader Chaou

Abdelmadjid Meskoud

Kamel El Harrachi

Hamid Baroudi

Boudjemaâ El Ankis

Cheikh El Hasnaoui

Raïna Raï

Latest Release

Chaabi Essentiel

Dahmane El Harrachi•

El Hachemi Guerouabi•

Kamel Messaoudi

Album - 15 Tracks - Released January 8, 2019