History and Origins of Ra'i Music
Ra'i music originated primarily from the Algerian city of Oran in the 1920's. Following World War I, Oran had a fairly culturally diverse population; Ra'i music combined many musical traditions, including those of the Bedouin shepherds, Spanish, French, Sub-Saharan Africans, and Eastern Arabs. Singers of Ra'i during this period were called chiouks (male) and cheikhates (female).
Ra'i, which means "opinion" or "advice" in Arabic, was a revolutionary genre in Algeria. Ra'i music appealed to the younger generation of Algerians. With its open references to alcohol, drugs, and sex, it was the anti-thesis to traditional Islamic values. From its inception, Ra'i singers also sung openly of the oppression and hardship of urban life, which connected Ra'i music to the lower class. Women were also involved in Ra'i beginning in its earliest stages.
Following Algerian independence from France in 1962, Ra'i music was suppressed by the Marxist Algerian government. This censorship continued in various manifestations under different Algerian governments up until the mid 1980's. Its suppression in the 1970's was due to its connection with mixed dances; Ra'i appeared to encourage sexual promiscuity. However, despite the official ban, illegal cassette distribution allowed Ra'i to become popular among the Maghrebi Arab community living in France. Ra'i music also gained popularity among the white French population who supported the anti-racism struggle in France.
Ra'i music became more electronic and westernized in the 1970's. Instruments such as the trumpet, synthesizer, electronic guitar, and drum machine became commonly used in Ra'i music. The younger generation of Ra'i singers began to use the titles cheb (male) and cheba (female) to distinguish themselves from the older Ra'i musicians.
Ra'i music was officially banned in the 1980's. Efforts to ban the music included a blanket ban on the importation of blank cassettes into Algeria and the confiscation of passports of Ra'i musicians. Violent riots in October 1988 used Ra'i songs to support their cause, so although many Ra'i musicians denied a connection between Ra'i music and the protests, Ra'i music became known as a form of protest music. During this period, several Ra'i musicians were assassinated by fundamental Islamist groups, and many musicians relocated to France to escape censorship.
In 1985, the Algerian government officially recognized Ra'i music as a part of Algeria's cultural heritage, although they continued to monitor the songs. Today, Ra'i music is supported by the Algerian government, although tensions remain between Ra'i and Islamic fundamentalists.
"I am against Islamic fundamentalists. Young people want to progress. Even now, I can't smoke in front of my father, not even a cigarette. Young people who want to speak with a girl or live with her can't talk about it with their parents. In Ra'i music, people can express themselves. We break taboos. That's why fundamentalists don't like what we're doing." - Ra'i musician Cheb Khaled
In the late 1980's and 1990's, Ra'i music appeared upon the international music scene. The first Ra'i musician to achieve international success was Cheb Khaled, followed by other musicians such as Cheb Miami, Faudel, Rachid Taha, and Aldo. These musicians fused funk, hip hop, and rock with Ra'i in the 1990's, and many no longer define themselves as Ra'i musicians, but create music that is profoundly influenced by Ra'i.