Search - Malik Belili :: Zmanayi-Ce-Temps-La

If you want to experience traditional Algerian music today, then you have to visit the Kabylian region. Malik Belili was born in this region. A forrest mountain region in the northern parts of Algeria. This region is inhabited by the Berber folk, who call themselves "Imazighane" - the free people. Up until today, they claim the legitimate right of self-government. Malik Belili comes from a small village called Bétrouna located in the famous highlands of Djurdjura, cradle of inherited poetry. During his childhood, his mother often sang the traditional songs while putting him to sleep, thus from the very beginning on, Malik was brought up with this traditional music and chants. At the age of 10, he built his first guitar made from a piece of wood and an oil canister. As a small boy, Malik had his debut performances at local villages in the area. His goal is to spread the poetic-musical traditiona of his home around the world. Songs, that he was taught from the very beginning while listening to his mother. In 1990 he recorded his first album, which became a top no. 1 hit in the Algerian radio station "Chaine 2". Malik Belili searched for new possibilities and set off to France. 1992 he recorded his second album in Paris. His concert slowly filled up, after the word spread around in the Berber community in France. In 1998 he was invited by Fréderic Mitterrand to perform on his show "le cercles des arts" on Kanal France 2. This performance led to a breakthough success. Now, he recorded the album "Zmanayi, Ce Temps La" combining the traditional Kabylian music with western influences. His songs are about love, daily life, memories and hope. "Lumiére de la vie" (the light of life) is a flamming confession to his homalnd Algeria. "L'esperance a de tout temps bercé ma vie ». The musical experience he made in Europe, surmounted the cultur-political schematism around the Kabylian region and favored the musical dramaturgy, that was open for the western technics. Almost none other was able to carry his childhood dreams of life and love into the present and place his work on such an esthetic fundament as Malik Belili. This music, with all its sublime shades carries to one of the most beautiful and impressive hearing-experiences in the last years. - Noureddine Ben Redjeb, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin; Radio Multikulti RBB Berlin