Khaled
Hadj Brahim, popularly known as Khaled, is the most internationally famous Algerian
singer/songwriter. He is recognized as the "King of Raļ" -- a type of Algerian
folk music that he helped modernize in the 1980s with western instruments and
recording techniques. Khaled and other raļ artists were forced to flee Algeria
to live in France when Algerian Islamic fundamentalists made death threats, claiming
raļ music is irreverent because it includes lyrics about taboo topics of romance,
alcohol and drugs. By 1992 his self-titled album Khaled made him a superstar in
France. His popularity grew throughout the 1990s and spread throughout the Arabic
world as his music combined rhythms and styles from soul, rock and reggae to create
his distinctive sound. Many of his lyrics are political, speaking about democracy
and women's rights. Khaled has become a sort of unofficial ambassador of the Arabic
minority in France. Recognizing his gift to bridge cultures, the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) named Khaled as a FAO Ambassador in 2003.
He has worked to rally his fans and other artists in the campaign to end world
hunger.
