Khaled
(1960-)

Algerian Singer
UN Food & Agriculture Organization Ambassador

birthdate: February 29
birthplace:
Sidi-El-Houri, Oran, Algeria

Khaled Hadj Brahim, popularly known as Khaled, is the most internationally famous Algerian singer/songwriter. He is recognized as the "King of Raļ" -- a type of Algerian folk music that he helped modernize in the 1980s with western instruments and recording techniques. Khaled and other raļ artists were forced to flee Algeria to live in France when Algerian Islamic fundamentalists made death threats, claiming raļ music is irreverent because it includes lyrics about taboo topics of romance, alcohol and drugs. By 1992 his self-titled album Khaled made him a superstar in France. His popularity grew throughout the 1990s and spread throughout the Arabic world as his music combined rhythms and styles from soul, rock and reggae to create his distinctive sound. Many of his lyrics are political, speaking about democracy and women's rights. Khaled has become a sort of unofficial ambassador of the Arabic minority in France. Recognizing his gift to bridge cultures, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) named Khaled as a FAO Ambassador in 2003. He has worked to rally his fans and other artists in the campaign to end world hunger.

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