Ali Maachi
Ali Maâchi was born on August 12, 1927 in Tiaret into a modest peasant family. In 1949, he was assigned to the navy stationed in Bizerte (Tunisia). It was in this city and in Tunis that he became familiar, among others, with the great violinist Kaddour Srasri, with the art of music.
In 1953, he directed the Safir Ettarab orchestra, an artistic troupe born from the El Andaloussiya musical troupe. With this orchestra, he will add very beautiful popular songs to the Algerian musical heritage. Ali Maâchi forges a particular style escaping oriental influence by introducing the Oranese naghma which will take over in his repertoire. The first song written by Maâchi is Ya Chebh El Hillal.
It is with Angham El Djazaïr, a very beautiful song about the beauty of a land and love, performed at the height of the National Liberation War, that he will affirm his talent and his convictions. Belonging to a cell of the National Liberation Front (FLN), he was arrested in 1958 after the discovery of explosive devices in his home; he will be incarcerated and tortured.
On June 8, 1958, in the forest overlooking Tiaret, he was machine-gunned and his body was exposed on Place Carnot, in the center of the town of Tiaret.
In 1953, he directed the Safir Ettarab orchestra, an artistic troupe born from the El Andaloussiya musical troupe. With this orchestra, he will add very beautiful popular songs to the Algerian musical heritage. Ali Maâchi forges a particular style escaping oriental influence by introducing the Oranese naghma which will take over in his repertoire. The first song written by Maâchi is Ya Chebh El Hillal.
It is with Angham El Djazaïr, a very beautiful song about the beauty of a land and love, performed at the height of the National Liberation War, that he will affirm his talent and his convictions. Belonging to a cell of the National Liberation Front (FLN), he was arrested in 1958 after the discovery of explosive devices in his home; he will be incarcerated and tortured.
On June 8, 1958, in the forest overlooking Tiaret, he was machine-gunned and his body was exposed on Place Carnot, in the center of the town of Tiaret.