Raï Story: From Cheikha Rimitti to Cheba Djenet

Synopsis

Raï Story is a musical journey in search of the Raï legend, Cheikha Remitti, in Oran, Algeria, where the Raï musical tradition began. In 1923, the first Raï singers performed behind screens during ceremonies to protect their identity. It was only when the music of singer Cheikha Remitti began to gain popularity among the general public that Raï music was made public, in the 1940s. Cheikha Remitti, who lives between Paris and Oran, is nowhere to be found, the filmmakers then decide to meet producers, musicians, singers like Cheba Dalila or Cheba Djenet, for whom Remitti created a wake. The opportunity, through these unique stories, illustrated with archive images, to retrace the important place of women in this musical tradition and the transformation of Raï music from the 1960s to 2000.

Cast

Cheikha Remitti

Self

Cheba Djenet

Self

Cheba Dalila

Self

Chaba Fadela

Self (archive footage)

Chaba Zahouania

Self (archive footage)

Cheb Hasni

Self (archive footage)

Cheb Khaled

Self (archive footage)

Cheb Mami

Self (archive footage)

Raïna Raï

Self (archive footage)

Messaoud Bellemou

Self (archive footage)