Matoub Lounès اغاني معطوب الون

Matoub with the Algerian Mandiol in 1975. He was an Algerian singer of Kabylie music.

Matoub with the Algerian Mandiol in 1975. He was an Algerian singer of Kabylie music.

Matoub started his singing career under the auspices of the well-established singer Idir. He recorded his first album Izem (The Lion) in 1978; It was a massive success and then recorded 36 albums, as well as writing songs for other artists. He gave his first major concert in April 1980, at the time of the "Barbarian Spring" protest movement in Kabylie.

His music blends Algerian-Andalusian folk synchronicity with politicized Kabylie (Berber) lyrics, and covers a wide range of topics including Berber issue, democracy, freedom, religion, Islamism, love and exile, memory, history, peace and human rights. Unlike the Berber poet / musicians who preceded him, Matoub's style was direct and confrontational. Fellow musician Muhammad Alishi recalls:

He went straight and criticized the president. He mentioned the president of Algeria early in his career. He goes black and white, he was very, very clear in his songs, and he is the only singer - not just Algeria, but all of North Africa - who has criticized the government and criticized it clearly. He will never be afraid

Although he was banned from Algerian radio and television during his life, Matoub became and is still a popular singer in the Kabylie region.