World Music Central.org

A rock star to the core, Rachid Taha mixes raï, techno, rock, and punk to sing Arabic wah-wah tunes about exile and racism. The combination of traditional and electronic instruments results in a sound like the Clash being backed by bendir, the North African snare drum. An Algerian now based in France, Taha is a “feral and formidable presence [on stage],” singing with a “throaty roar” as Rai strings “dip and surge like quicksilver [thrusts] of a rapier” (BBC).

Taha intersperses celebrations of old-school rock—from “Rock the Casbah” to Bo Diddley—with serious and passionate reflections on the cultural strife that have cinched his influential role as a voice for Algerian-Berbers and French-Arabs and that ring with a universal message of humanity. Raha’s most recent recordings are Ole Ole (1995), Carte Blanche – Best of (1997), Diwan (1998), Made in Medina (Universal Music/USA: Mondo Melodia, 2000), Live (Ark, 2002), Tekitoi (Wrasse, 2004), and Diwan 2 (Wrasse, 2006).

Richie Havens & Rachid Taha: Exclusive Double Bill
Thursday, April 16, 8 PM
Page Auditorium, West Campus, Duke University
$34, $26, $20; $5 for all Duke Students

Also in the Art/Politics/Now series:

Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Company – The Theater of Needless Talents
Thursday & Friday, February 19 & 20, 8 pm, Reynolds Industries Theater

Simon Shaheen with the Aswat Orchestra featuring vocalists Ibrahim Azzam, Sonia M’Barek, Khalil Abonula & Rima Khcheich – World Premiere: Aswat (Voices): Celebrating the Golden Age of Arab Music
Thursday, March 5, 8 pm, Page Auditorium

Ferhat Tunç – Laments for Rebels and Soldiers
Friday, March 20, 8 pm, Nelson Music Room

Vincent Mantsoe – Ebhoflo (This Madness)
Saturday, March 21, 8 pm & Sunday, March 22, 3pm, Hayti Heritage Center

FOR TICKETS: visit dukeperformances.org or call 919-684-4444.