Algerian Rai star Cheb Mami Saturday performed a concert at Percy Theater in Paris, the revenues of which were allocated to the victims of floods in the neighborhood of Bab Al Wad in the Algerian capital, according to the London based daily Al Sharq Al Awsat.
The singer raised the Algerian flag on the stage during the concert held on the 20th anniversary of taking singing as his career. He sang in both Arabic and French before an audience eager to express itself in dual culture. The concert marked the first opportunity for the Arab expatriates in France to make a relief of sigh following the tension they faced in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in USA.
Responding to a question by the French journalists about his opinion on the attacks in the USA, he said, “what happened was horrible and has brought back those who were active in merging the Arab expatriates with their new communities to square one.”
“It is important to solve the problems that led to terrorism,” said Mami criticizing “those calling for halt of terrorism while the Palestinian police headquarters were being demolished by the Israeli army.”
Mami was the first Rai singer who stands to sing in Olympia Hall in Paris. He also sang in the USA and participated in a duet along with the international singer Sting. He excelled in blending Rai performed in the Algerian dialect with the Rap, which stems from the immigrant neighborhoods in the French cities.
Responding to a question by the French daily Le Figaro’s correspondent on the reason behind his support for all issues concerning Algeria, Mohammed Khleifati, who is known by Cheb Mami, said, “my name is Mohammed before it was Mami.” – Albawaba.com
