World bids goodbye to Algerian superstar Rachid Taha

In his 59 years of life, Rachid Taha gave the world iconic music, social justice and a taste of his homeland.

1 min read

The New Arab

13 Sep, 2018

Rachid Taha died age 59 [Getty]

Thousands took to social media to mourn the death of Algerian-born singer Rachid Taha who died from a heart attack on Tuesday night aged 59.

The charismatic singer was a giant of French music in the 1980s with Arabic-language group Carte de Sejour, which fused rock with Algerian rai music.

"It is with regret and immense sadness that his son Lyes, his family and relatives, his friends and his record label Naïve, announce the death of artist Rachid Taha, following a heart attack overnight at his home in the Lilas [near Paris]," read a statement.

Taha was born in Algeria in 1958 and moved to Lyon with his family aged 10.

He and his group became the standard-bearers for the second generation of the North African community in France.

Tributes were paid to him all over the world:

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Algerians mourned the man who made their childhood what it was:

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'Close to home':

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His powerful music has made its mark in many ways:

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