Dahmane El Harrachi
Dahmane El Harrachi (real name Abderrahmane Amrani), (July 7, 1926 – August 31, 1980), was an Algerian Chaâbi singer of Chaoui origin. His song Ya Rayah made him one of the best exported and translated Chaabi artist. He moved to France in 1949 living in Lille, then Marseille, before eventually settling in Paris.
Also recorded as Abderrahmane Amrani
Dahmane El Harrachi
Personal Collection of Photos · Public domain
- Name
- Dahmane El Harrachi
- Birth Name
- Abderrahmane Amrani
- Born
- 7 July 1926
- Died
- 31 August 1980
- Birthplace
- El Biar, Algiers, French Algeria
- Place of death
- Aïn Bénian, Algiers, Algeria
- Occupation
- Singer, song-writer, instrumentalist
- Nationality
- Algeria · France
- Fields
- Algerian chaabi
- Languages
- Arabic
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Dahmane El Harrachi (real name Abderrahmane Amrani), (July 7, 1926 – August 31, 1980), was an Algerian Chaâbi singer of Chaoui origin. His song Ya Rayah made him one of the best exported and translated Chaabi artist. He moved to France in 1949 living in Lille, then Marseille, before eventually settling in Paris.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
Dahmane El Harrachi (1926–1980) was a composer, musician and singer, among other activities, a national of Algeria and France. The composer was born in El Biar and died in Aïn Bénian. Activity centred on Algerian chaabi. Languages used include Arabic.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Dahmane El Harrachi. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q3011965 · wikipedia · Dahmane El Harrachi
In this article
Biography
Biography
It was in Paris where he made a name for himself, playing in the numerous Algerian cafés there.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Dahmane El Harrachi • Birth Name — Abderrahmane Amrani • Alias — Dahmane El Harrachi • Born — 7 July 1926 • Died — 31 August 1980 • Birthplace — El Biar, Algiers, French Algeria • Place of death — Aïn Bénian, Algiers, Algeria • Instrument — Banjos, violins (alto), mandole, derbouka, tar • Genre — Chaabi • Occupation — Singer, song-writer, instrumentalist • Years Active — 1956–1980 • Website — Dahmane El Harrachi Website
Personal
Personal
His father, originally from the Chaoui village of Djellal in the province of Khenchla, was the muezzin at the Djamaa el Kebir mosque in Algiers. In 2009, his son Kamel El Harrachi issued a homage CD to his father, titled "Ghana Fenou".
Death
Death
He died on August 31, 1980, in a car accident on the highway in Algiers. He is buried at the El Kettar Cemetery.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
El Biar.
Birth place
Aïn Bénian.
Death place
Influence
El Harrachi's music brought a modern touch to châabi, incorporating themes like immigrant struggle and longing for one's homeland into his songs, of which he wrote over 500. He has served as an inspiration to a generation of Algerian raï artists, including Rachid Taha.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Zerarka, Youssef. Dahmane El Harrachi, "toujours vivant", 35 ans après la mort. Al Huffington Post. 31 Aug 2015.
- 2.L'Expression: Culture - Dahmane El Harrachi, l'artiste qui n'est jamais parti. L'Expression.
- 3.Pareles, Jon. Rachid Taha, 59, Algerian Rocker Who Spoke for Immigrants, Dies (Published 2018). The New York Times. 2018-09-14. 0362-4331.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,630 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Dagmar PeckováPerson
- DagnyPerson
- DagoredOrganisation
- Dagur KáriPerson
- Dahvie VanityPerson
- Dai FujikuraPerson
- Dai SatōPerson
- Dai-Keong LeePerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Dahmane El Harrachi?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.