Idir

Hamid Cheriet came into the world in Algeria in 1949 and rose to prominence during the seventies after releasing the song "Rsed A Yidess" together with two albums steeped in North African textures. A major return to public attention occurred in 1999 via the star-filled joint project Identités.

Once "Rsed A Yidess" succeeded in 1973, Cheriet moved to Paris and secured a deal with Pathe, which put out his debut album A Vava Inouva in 1975; the title song grew into a colossal hit. His distinctive approach relied on the traditional Kabylian flute and derbouka, anchoring him in Berber musical lineage.

Idir worked alongside Ferhat Mehenni and Lounis Ait Menguellet to introduce rai sounds to wider listeners, opening doors for later figures such as Rachid Taha and Khaled. He assembled Identités in 1999 with contributors including Manu Chao and Zebda, then followed the same model on the 2007 album La France des Couleurs. His recent work consistently reveals an effort to portray present-day, racially mixed France, both through the lyrics and through partnerships that extend from African legend Tiken Jah Fakoly to French urban acts like Kenza Farah.