Raï

Raï (/ˈraɪ/; Arabic: راي‎) is a form of folk music that originated in Oran, Algeria from Bedouin shepherds, mixed with Spanish, French, African and Arabic musical forms, which dates back to the 1930s.

Singers of raï are called cheb (shabab, young) as opposed to sheikh (shaykh, old), the name given to Chaabi singers. The tradition arose in cities like Oran, Relizane, Mostaganem, Chlef and Sidi-Bel-Abbès, primarily among the poor. Traditionally sung by men, by the end of the 20th century, female singers had become common. The lyrics of raï have concerned social issues, such as disease and the policing of European colonies, that affected native populations.

Read more about Raï:  Censorship of Raï Music, Selected List of Raï Musicians

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Lucia Ronchetti - Biography
... Her works have been published by Rai Trade, Durand, Ricordi and Lemoine, and produced, commissioned and performed by such institutions as the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich Konzerthaus, Berlin Rai Radio Tre, Rome Deutschland Radio Kultur, Berlin Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt MaerzMusik, Berlin Musik der Jahrhunderte, Stuttgart Deutschland Radio, Berlin ensemble recherche, Freiburg Festival Ultrashall, Berlin Orchestra of the Rai, Turin WDR Sinfonieorchester, Cologne Teatro La Fenice, Venice Wittener Tagen, Witten G ... R ...