Rachid Taha

**Rachid Taha** (Arabic: رشيد طه‎ Rashīd Ṭaha; 18 September 1958 – 12 September 2018) was an Algerian singer and activist based in France described as "sonically adventurous". His music was influenced by many different styles including rock, electronic, punk and raï. Taha was born in Sig (Mascara Province), Algeria, although a second source suggests he was born in the Algerian seacoast city of Oran. This town was the "birthplace of raï" music, and 1958 was a key year in the Algerian struggle for independence against French authority. He began listening to Algerian music in the 1960s, including street-style music called chaabi. Additionally, music from the Maghreb region was part of his upbringing.

(read more on Wikipedia)

## Links to Kershaw

Kershaw described Rachid Taha as the Bruce Springsteen or the Joe Strummer of Rai music and often played his music on his shows. He even saw him perform at several gigs, including one in Algeria, where he made a radio documentary programme called Andy In Algeria, which was broadcast in 2006 on BBC Radio Three.

Joe Strummer of The Clash was introduced to Rachid Taha's music after hearing it on Andy Kershaw's programme in the 90's. Strummer was even going to meet up with Taha to work on some material, but he tragically died, although fellow Clash member, Mick Jones did perform with Rachid on some shows.

Interestingly Rachid Taha in the Guardian article published in March 2007 mentioned that he met the Clash in September 1981 just before they were to perform at the Théâtre Mogador in Paris. Taha gave them a copy of a demo tape by his band, Carte de Séjour (Residence Permit), an outfit from Lyon who combined Algerian rai with funk and punk rock.

> *"They looked interested," remembers Taha, "but when they didn't get in touch, I thought nothing of it. Then, a few months later, I heard Rock the Casbah." He cackles mischievously. "Maybe they did hear it after all."* [1]
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The incident has since gone down in French rock legend. Taha recorded his own Arabised version of the song, entitled Rock el Kasbah, something he's performed live with the Clash's Mick Jones.

## Sessions

1. Recorded: unknown. First Broadcast: 07 July 1996

* unknown set

2. Recorded: 1996-10-24 First Broadcast: 27 October 1996. Repeated: 29 September 1997, 15 February 2004

* Kelma / Ole Ole / Baadini / Nokta

## Live

Recorded at the Royal Festival Hall on 2001-11-14. First Broadcast: 16 November 2001

1. unknown set

Recorded at the 2001 London Jazz Festival. First Broadcast: 17 May 2002

1. Nokta
2. Foqt Foqt
3. Habina

Recorded at the London Jazz Festival. First Broadcast: 28 November 2004

1. Nokta
2. Kelma
3. Hassbouhoum
4. Rock El Casbah

Recorded at the Barbican. First Broadcast: 06 February 2005

1. Barra Barra
2. Safid
3. Winta
4. Ya Rayah
5. Ya Rayah remix Punk version

Habina
Recorded in Algeria: Date unknown. First Broadcast: 13 August 2006. Repeated: 11 June 2007

1. Nokta
2. Abdelkader
3. Meftuh
4. Habina
5. Ya Rayah
6. Rock El Kasbah

## Other Shows Played

   1996
* 28 April 1996: Comme Un Chien (CD - Olé, Olé) Barclay
* 12 May 1996: Kelma (CD - Olé, Olé) Barclay
* 30 June 1996: Nokta (CD - Olé, Olé) Barclay
* 20 October 1996: Kelma (CD - Olé, Olé) Barclay
* 27 October 1996: Baadini (CD - Olé, Olé) Barclay
* 29 December 1996: Kelma (CD - Olé, Olé) Barclay

1998
* 16 March 1998: Ya Rayah (CD - Taha Carte Blanche) Barclay
* 23 March 1998: Bani Al Insane (CD - Diwan) Polygram
* 06 April 1998: Bent Sahra (CD - Diwan) Polygram
* 11 May 1998: Bani Al Insane (CD - Diwan) Polygram
* 01 June 1998: Bani Al Insane (CD - Diwan) Polygram
* 03 December 1998: Aicha (2xCD - 1,2,3, Soleils) Barclay
* 10 December 1998: La Camel (2xCD - 1,2,3 Soleils) Barclay

1999
* 08 April 1999: Bani Al Insane (CD - Diwan) Barclay
* 27 May 1999: Ida (2xCD - 1,2,3 Soleils) Barclay

2001
* 11 May 2001: Barra Barra (CD - Made In Medina) Universal
* 01 June 2001: Verité (CD - Made In Medina) Ark 21
* 29 June 2001: Barra Barra (CD - Made In Medina) Ark 21
* 09 November 2001: Barra Barra (CD - Made In Medina) Ark 21

2002
* 03 May 2002: Bent Sahra (CD - Live) Ark 21

2003
* 15 August 2003: El H'Mame (v/a 3xCD - Arabesque Tlata 3) React

   2004
* 08 February 2004: Kelma (CD - Olé, Olé) Barclay
* 18 July 2004: Rock El Casbah (CD - Tékitoi) Wrasse
* 15 August 2004: Meftuh' (CD - Tékitoi) Wrasse
* 19 September 2004: Tekitoi? (Who Are You?) (CD - Tekitoi?) Wrasse
* 10 October 2004: H’asbu-Hum (CD - Tékitoi) Wrasse
* 07 November 2004: Rock El Casbah (CD - Tékitoi) Wrasse
* 21 November 2004: Stenna (CD - Tekitoi) Wrasse

2005
* 30 January 2005: Boire (CD - Olé, Olé) Barclay
* 06 March 2005: Safi (CD - Tékitoi) Wrasse

2006
* 28 May 2006: Tekitoi? (Who Are You?) (v/a 2xCD - Awards For World Music 2006) Manteca
* 06 August 2006: Kelma
* 22 October 2006: Agatha (CD - Diwan 2) Wrasse
* 29 October 2006: Maydoum (CD - Diwan 2) Wrasse
* 12 November 2006: Maydoum (album - Diwan 2) Wrasse

2007
* 07 January 2007: Agatha (album - Diwan 2) Wrasse
* 02 April 2007: Kelma (Thoughts) (album - The Definitive Collection) Wrasse
* 09 April 2007: Barra Barra (Outside) (album - The Definitive Collection) Wrasse

2021
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 7: Kelma (album - Olé, Olé) Barclay

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs