Episode 190

Invitation au voyage – Season 9

"Invitation au Voyage" explores the history of Chaâbi, a traditional musical genre that emerged in the early 20th century in the Casbah of Algiers, Algeria. Literally meaning "popular" in Arabic, this musical style is deeply rooted in the daily life, history, and urban poetry of Algerian society. Born of popular culture and drawing its roots from religious songs as well as Arab-Andalusian poetry, it has become a powerful vehicle for expressing Algiers' identity and the nostalgia of exile. This musical genre was developed from classical Algerian music by Cheikh El Hadj M'hamed El Anka (1907–1978)—considered the founding father and undisputed grand master of Chaâbi—who modernized its orchestration and elevated the genre to a prestigious status.