Cheb Akil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Akil | |
|---|---|
| Born | Akil Abdelkader June 27, 1974 |
| Died | (aged 38) |
| Genres | Raï |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1987–2013 |
Akil Abdelkader (Arabic: عقيل عبد القادر, 27 June 1974 – 14 June 2013),[1] known as Cheb Akil, later Akil (Arabic: عقيل) was a raï singer from Khemis Miliana, Algeria, and died in Tangier, Morocco, as a result of a car accident.[2] To this day, Akil is considered one of Raï's leading artists.[3]
Early life
Akil was born on June 27, 1974, in Khemis Miliana, Algeria. He spent much of his early life in poverty. He was noticed at a young age by Abdelkader Cassidy, who helped launch many raï artists throughout the 1980s and 90s.[4] Cassidy gave him his first opportunity by producing an entire album of cover songs.
Career
Akil gained recognition for his warm, nuanced voice and his strong command of the synthesizer. He released his first album at the age of 13, performing covers of songs by Cheb Khaled, Cheb Mami, and Cheb Hasni.[1] In 1989, Cheb Akil stood out with the track Ne me quitte pas Omri, which was later covered by Cheb Bilal, who also ranked Akil among his favourite singers.[4] His song Tahasdou oula T'ghirou sold over 100,000 copies and helped propel him to widespread fame.[4] Known for his discipline and rigor in his musical work, Akil addressed various contemporary youth issues through his lyrics. Notable songs include Mektoubna, Tahya Bladi, Ma Tansak, and Ma Confiance. In 2010, on the occasion of the qualification of the Algerian national football team for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, he released the song Gladiator in collaboration with the rapper Sinik.[5]
Death
Cheb Akil died following a serious road accident. He succumbed to his injuries during the night of June 13, 2013, in Tangier, where he had been scheduled to perform that same evening at the Millenium venue. His wife, who was pregnant at the time and present in the car, survived the accident without injury. Following his death, Mohammed VI expressed his condolences to the family, describing the loss as "cruel." He stated that Cheb Akil was a talented artist who had won over a wide audience of raï fans in both Algeria and Morocco, which he described as his second country. His passing also prompted a response from the Algerian Ministry of Culture.[4][2]
