Lhadj Belaïd
Mohamed Belaid (1873 – 1945), widely known as Rays Lhaj Belaid, was a Moroccan singer-poet (ṛṛays) and rebab player. He sang in Tachelhit. He is considered to be one of the first essential figures of rways (plural of rays), poetry and rebab players in the musical tradition of Shilha people (also known as chleuh).
Also recorded as Lhaj Belaid · Lhaj Belaid Abaàqil · Lhadj Belaid
Lhadj Belaïd
- Name
- Lhaj Belaid
- Birth Name
- Muhammed Belaid
- Born
- 1873
- Birthplace
- Ouijjane, Morocco
- Died
- 1945
- Occupation
- Singer, musician
- Nationality
- Morocco
- Languages
- Tashelhit
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Lhadj Belaïd. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q3237501
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Lhaj Belaid • Birth Name — Muhammed Belaid • Native Name — ⵍⵃⴰⵊⵊ ⴱⵍⵄⵉⴷ • Born — 1873 • Birthplace — Ouijjane, Morocco • Died — 1945 • Instrument — Voice, Rebab • Genre — Tachelhit (Berber of Sous) • Occupation — Singer, musician • Alias — Rays Belaid
Biography
Biography
Lhaj Belaid was born around 1873 in a small village near Ouijjane, but he lived most of his life travelling in the region of Souss. His father died when he was child and student in the local madrasa. He quit study and started to work as a shepherd in his village. Lhaj Belaid started playing flute when he was a shepherd. He continued singing and playing with his rebab until he left for the Sufi town of Tazerwalt to learn more about poetry. Later, he joined a musical group where he played rebab and became increasing popular. In 1937, he was one of the first Moroccan artists to be invited to record his music for the French Pathé-Marconi in Paris.
Death
Death
In the early 1940s, Lhaj Belaid suddenly disappeared from the musical scene and is believed to have died between 1943 and 1948 (most likely 1945) in a small village in the region of Souss.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1873
Lhadj Belaïd born at Anou n Adou.
1945
Lhadj Belaïd died.
Legacy
Lhaj Belaid was a prolific poet and singer treating several social, cultural and political topics. Some of his famous poems and songs are: • Mqqar tlla tuga / Taliwin • Aṭbib (the doctor) • Lḥassani • Ljuhr (the jewelry) • Ṣṣbeṛ (Patience) • Lhna (Peace) • Lmakina (the Machine) • Lḥijj (the pilgrimage) • Iɣ istara uḍar inu • Atbir umlil (the white Pigeon) • Isa ukan txmmamɣ
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Lhaj Belaid, revision 1351251206 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
General reference
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 Books
39,529 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- LexiaTerminology
- Lexie Dean RobertsonAuthor
- Leyla KhanimAuthor
- Leyla ZanaAuthor
- Lhasang TseringAuthor
- Li AoAuthor
- Li BaiAuthor
- Li BaiyaoAuthor
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Lhadj Belaïd?
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.