Guerrilla of pop 107 - - ’ Matoub Lounès 106 .’ Djaout Tahar I want to speak and I don’t want to die. I want to speak and I Silence is death and yet if you speak you die. If you keep quiet you die. So then if you speak you die. If you keep quiet you Silence is death and yet In In Paris, thousands gathered in Place de la République, in front of an im Within Within hours angry mourners in their thousands had gathered around the ‘ Death finallycaught up with him on the lonely bend of a mountain road. ANDY MORGAN ‘ speak and die wanted wanted to shut him up so they killed him,’ said one mourner. ‘He sang for smouldering under the fluttering yellow, blue and green flags of Kabylia, arms arms Kabylia, of flags andgreen blue yellow, the fluttering under smouldering raised to the skies, chanting his songs. ‘Matoub was the Bard of They Kabylia. song. song. The great Berber singer Idir denounced the new Arabization law which was due to be passed on 5 July, making Arabic the compulsory language almost of every officialor semi-official transaction in Algeria. The crowd stood mense black-and-white portrait of Matoub. Actors, politicians, community leaders, writers and musicians took to the stage to say a few words or sing a were were killed. Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia appealed feebly for calm. Kabylia was burning. Aïn Aïn el Hammam and Tizi Guénif and unleashed their rage buildings, on party government offices,banks and shops. The police and security forces re taliated nervously with water cannon, tear gas and bullets. Three protesters salvoes salvoes of anger, desperation and ‘Government … grief. Assassin!’ ‘Zéroual … Assassin!’ ‘Islamists … Assassins!’ ‘The generals … Assassins!’ Over the next few days youths took to the streets of Tizi Ouzou, Akbou, Sidi Aïch, Bejaia, Mohammed Mohammed Nedir hospital in Tizi Ouzou, where Matoub Lounès’s bloodied remains were taken after the attack. Their shouts boomed like mixed-shot Chenoui’s men.’ ‘It was the government.’ ‘He’s dead.’ ‘He’s gone.’ ‘Matoub has has ‘Matoub gone.’ ‘He’s dead.’ ‘He’s government.’ the was ‘It men.’ Chenoui’s gone.’ Some even whispered, ‘It had to happen.’ Internet came alive. ‘They’ve killed him.’ ‘He was with his wife and two sisters- two and wife his with was ‘He him.’ killed ‘They’ve alive. came Internet ‘They in-law.’ were hit too.’ ‘It happened just after 1 p.m.’ ‘On the Tizi Ouzou road.’ ‘It was a false roadblock.’ ‘It was an ambush.’ ‘It was the GIA.’ ‘It was The bullet-strafed car bullet-strafed was The still smoking and the pools of blood on the asphalt were still warm when the news broke. Telephones lines crackled and the A grave between an olive and a cherry tree A grave between an 13 | Guerrilla of pop: Matoub Lounès and the and Lounès Matoub pop: of Guerrilla | 13 Algeria in identity Berber for struggle Guerrilla of pop ------107 Like a young adult who has just broken free from parental chains, any new chains, parental from free a Like who has broken adult just young The The heat was intense, the atmosphere even more so, and many fainted. The The Berber Cultural Movement (MCB) called for a general strike and the lems. lems. Proud, defiant but still politically immature, the new leaders of these patchwork of tribes and ethnicities by civil servants in the oak-panelled minis oak-panelled the in servants civil by ethnicities and tribes of patchwork tries of Paris or London, the question of identity has always posed huge prob territory territory is already blessed with linguistic and cultural coherence have little But for many a of trouble establishing identity. national the huge, amorphous of nations which Africa, from were together cobbled a often carelessly chaotic born born nation-state must grapple with the fundamental questions ‘Who am I? What is my identity?’ Sometimes the answer comes easily. Countries whose One God? One nation? One people? the the air and his sister Malika made a short speech which ended, ‘The face of Lounès will be missed but his songs will dwell for ever in our hearts. Today is a day of great We joy. are celebrating the birth of Matoub Lounès.’ an an Algerian flag,and laid tenderly in a grave just in front of his family home, between an olive and a cherry tree, facing the majestic Djurdjura Mountains which he had loved with such a passion. His mother Aldjia firedtwo shots in and and Revenge!’ ‘No Peace without Tamazight.’ ‘Arabo-Islamism, the shortest way to HELL.’ Eventually Matoub’s body was brought out, wrapped only in associations policed the gathering. Their work was light because no one was in in was one no because light was work Their gathering. the policed associations the mood for Placards troublemaking. bearing Matoub’s intense and anxious features were held aloft. Banners broke the silence and the sobs. ‘Remember veiled, veiled, surprised Traditionally, funerals many. in Algeria are all-male affairs. Militants from the various Berber political groups and local village defence simmering simmering under a hot and ripening sun. The un presence them of all of threads, Western women, or dress dressed traditional colourful their in defiantly foot. foot. The roads were jammed. hopelessly This, for once, was a real roadblock. In every hollow, on every ridge, down every street or path and on every rooftop around the Matoub villa, as far as the eye could see, a sea of mourners stood paths paths of a huge Many cemetery. of the city’s inhabitants had left before dawn Ma where village the Moussa, Taourirt to mountain the up way their made and on in or the cars 25 braved kilometres themselves stuffed toub was They born. in in a sepulchral silence on Sunday, 28 June 1998, the three lining mausoleums like looked businesses and days shops Boarded-up murder. after Matoub’s vara,’ vara,’ said a third. enveloped was of Kabylia, capital the Ouzou, Tizi overwhelming. was response freedom, freedom, our freedom, Berber freedom,’ said another. ‘He was our Che Gue Africa | 13 would now have to think, dream and cry in Arabic. in cry and dream think, to have now would expression, of vehicle their as language French the used hitherto all had who thinkers, and intellectuals Algerian Muslim curtailed. and controlled strictly of notionsFrench commerce. and ture judiciary,technology,science,culeducation,the oflanguage the as over take French language and French cultural values from society. In time, Arabic would than an ideology. Algeria would slowly and surely purge French civilization, the reactionamore people.secondwastheThe of good themanagefor them and duty to commandeer the economic, social and natural resources a of the country had state the and army The style. Soviet socialism, command-and-control was first The ideologies.overarching three by inspired was state, of head tive Bella,who eventually managed to seize power and become Algeria’s first effec Ben Ahmed by led councilrevolutionary émigré The question. we?’ are ‘Who that to answers different very had factions Variousindependence. its Algeria guaranteedwhich 1962 March of AccordsEvian the on dry was ink the before even surface to began which divisions deep were there veneer this beneath unity.appearanceofoutward But an least atmaintain to managedmovement reality.into them turn to necessary skills the of few but ideas and hopes with left were leaders new country’s The society.civilfunctioning a of foundations very the them with taking servants, civil and engineers teachers, lawyers, doctors, businessmen, independence; one Over century. beforemonths few twentieth the incountry the leftdescentEuropean of peoplemillion the of exoduses mass greatest the of one and The independentAlgeria an of birth the with ended war Europeans. The deep. very went scars killed Europeans eventually and Europeans. Muslims killed killed Muslims Muslims Muslims. killed Europeans kind. in answered mujahidin rebel The opponents. invisible their defeat to anything strategy, scorched-earth a and executions civilian mass torture, napalm, used French withtheVietcong, theMau Mau and many other popular people’s armies. The –with the kind of all-terrain guerrilla shock tactics that would later find favour methods Gestapo’s the with familiar too all were officers army French turned fighters resistance former many – control civilian to approachGestapo-like a combined It violence. extreme and hatred extreme of one was 1962 in ended means. oppressive and violent most the justifies that end an becomes unity national of grailanarchy. The and dust into crumble just will togethernation and live-and-let-live cohabitation for fear that the weak mortar that binds their federalism of notions progressive entertain cannot they find states fledgling As long as the war was taking its murderous course, the rebel nationalist rebel the course, murderous its taking was war the as long As independencethat of war The severe. and brutal were pains birthAlgeria’s 108 égalité , fraternité and liberté would be would - -

109 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 108 and culture of Arabic civilization, the unifying power of classical Middle East Middleclassical of powerunifying civilization,the Arabic of culture and history self- glorious the on spiritually draw must and it then world, defiant post-colonial a proud, in sufficient stand to was East Middle the or Africa North in nation-state a if that believed all They Iraq. in Ba’athists the or Syria in Assad Egypt, in Nasser as inspiration political of well same the into deep more affinity with neighbours like Spain, Greece or Yugoslavia than far-flung than Yugoslavia or Greece Spain, like neighbours with affinity more possessedwhich multi-ethnic,multi-lingualMediterraneancountry, a of that was Algeria of vision Their traditions. musical and poetic own their of riches like the in heroes pride intense own an took their and Koceila, and revered Kahena Massinissa, Jugurtha, They nation. Berber own their establish to enough longprevailed never they though even – French and TurksSpaniards, Arabs, Visigoths, Romans, – invaders successive of might the defying of tion tradi heroic a had Africa, North of inhabitants original the ancestors, their that saw They past. own their to to looked Berbers answer these identity, an country’s the for East Middle the to looking of Instead Berber. spoke They all. at Arabic speak didn’t country the of cent per 25 least at that was Algeria of vision ‘Ba’athist’-inspired nationalist, pan-Arabic, this with problem The unchanged.remained have identity but about beliefs core their decades of many the over shifted and softened have ideas Their 1962. in power took which clan nationalist the to affiliated loosely were men these All lika. Boutef Adelaziz incumbent, present the even and Zéroual Lamine President by 1990s the into and Bendjedid, Chadli president, new the by 1978 in death his after continued was life Algerian of walks all Arabicizing of programme His together. nation the hold could language Arabic the and socialism state Islam, of forces unifying and army revolutionary great the of discipline the Only implode. and splinter to tendency historic a with partisan and fractious fundamentallywas society Algerian that knew He mind’. the‘decolonizing of andindustrial revolutions he also instigated a cultural revolution with the aim agrarian his from Apart momentum. gained really country and the nationalizing Arabicizing of process the that reign his Arab during was diehard it a and nationalist, also was He socialist. command-and-control staunch and military leader steely turned teacher literature Arabic an was Boumédienne 1965.Boumédienne HouariinColonelerstwhilecomrade andnemesis his by coupmilitary a in ousted was who Bella, Ben of reignshort the duringAlgeria paramount. was Unityobliterated. or buried be mustdifferences ethnic and regional‘Petty’ succeed. to order in Islam of bedrock the and Arabic ern The third ideology was Arab nationalism. Ben Bella and his crew had delved There was, however, a very different answer to the question ‘Who are we?’ are ‘Who question the to answer different very a however, was, There in life daily to difference small a make to began only ideologies These 109

- - - Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 councils and councils The government. traditional system of Kabyle Algeria’s village and clan politics, ofwith its shape future the and democracy about ideas different very had also They über-state. socialist Arabic an of umbrella arian authorit- the under disappear Tamazight, as known language, Berber the of aries. They were not prepared to see their Berber identity and their own dialect co-revolution- Arabic their with disagreements fundamental had movement day.this to smile’‘Kabyle a wearing be to said is slit throat its with body A conflict. the of brutalities worst the of some suffered it such as and country,guerrilla classic is mountaintops, and ravines valleys, remote its with itself,Kabylia independence. of war the in hard fought They process. evolutionarythis in rolespivotalKabylesplayed 1950s. the in FLN orNational Libération de Front the as eventually emerge to mutations tortuous several through went movement The origin. Kabyle of men mostly comprised 1920s, the in Hadj el Messali by founded Nord-Africaine Étoile the movement, alist socialism,democracy andnationhood. Thefirst recognizable who Algerian nation Kabyles egalitarianism, the of ideas French was to language, it French the Consequently to adapted quickest 1960s. the before France in group immigrant African North largest the twentieth became they the and Kabyles, of were century beginning the at France to emigrate to Muslims Algerian Kabylefirstexperience. theThehard-wired into emigrationis and sons, its all support to enoughfertile nor largeneither been has countryidyllic their time long a For Kabyles. the with associated perennially clichés, say would some characteristics, the of some are these – music-loving democratic, homesick, ungovernable,honour-obsessed,dignified,free, tough, rugged, Dour,Algiers. capital,unparalleledthesituatedKabylia,south-eastcalledbeauty ofiswhich of region mountainous a inhabit who Kabyles, the are significant most and largest the but whole, a as Africa North and Algeria, over all dotted teristics necessity.or conveniencehabit, to according used be each let to nation, and the official threelanguages of the asFrench Arabic,andBerber in daily discourse to this day. Their proposed solution was to establish Algerian of the classical Arabic of the Koran, a language that hardly any Algerian speaks be cherished and preserved, not brutally eradicated by the artificial imposition that the local Arabic dialect reflected this mongrel past. This was something to and – French and Jewish Turkish, Spanish, Arab, Berber, – cultures different of patchwork nuanced highly a to home been long had territory Algerian the that fact recognizedthe They Iraq. or SyriaEgypt, like nations EasternMiddle Nevertheless, it soon became apparent that many Kabyles in the nationalist charac cultural and social different with communities Berber are There aarouch or tribal councils, instilled a raw but visceral feeling for feelingvisceral but raw a instilledcouncils,tribal or 110 djemaat or village - -

111 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 110 state. They increasingly feared that state-sanctioned Islam and an insistence an and Islam state-sanctioned that feared increasingly They state. theindividual andGod, rather than something decreed andformulated bythe between matter, personal a be faith let to preferred they but Islam, of tance top-down ethos of Arab nationalism. Many Kabyles also recognized the impor many Kabyles. This went against the grain of the authoritarian, centralized in and egalitarianism and involvement community of values the and democracy simple: first and simple:foremost first recognitionand the of officialTamazight an national as is causeoverriding Their too. things these for long theyAlgerians, other most like although, corruption, to end an and hospitals and schools better food, is Nor Algeria. struggletheirpredominantlyrights,women’sunion rights,cheaptrade about Berber outright an or autonomy for fighting aren’t Berbers diaspora. the in force major a become to started Berbers the of music and literature history, language, the (MCB), Berbère Culturel Mouvement the notably groups, cultural of Berber numerous activities the to Thanks community. Algerian expat the in cloud storm a gradually throughout the 1960s and 1970s Berber cultural awareness grew like where France, to moved struggle the of emphasis The underground. went or collapsed Algeria in movement Berber entire the departure his With exiled. and reprieved death, to sentenced captured, was Ahmed Aït Eventually ence. bloodybrutalanythingandas independ been seenthatduringhadof warthe up in Kabylia against Ben Bella’s government, with skirmishes and reprisals as flaredrevolt full-scale minorities.A Berber of rights the and ideasdemocratic social promote to vehicle a as (FFS), Socialistes Forces des Front the formed by 1962, but a year later a senior Kabyle revolutionary called Hocine Aït Ahmed way under already movement nationalist the in elements Kabyle dissident of purgegradual a was There move. the on wereKabyles the Algiers, of skies the end-all. and be-all the was alliesthefundamentalistor Islamic revolutionaries forwhomIslamican state his and Bella Ben by either supplied that from divergent more been have not fair number of othera non-Berber Algerianssaid, to the question ‘Whobe are we?’ could to has it and, Kabyles many of answer the all, in All imperialism’. of born doctrine reactionary ‘a as aspirations already Berber hadand Kabyle denounced 1920s, the in Badis Ben Abdelhamid Sheikh by founded ment revolutionarymove‘scholars’,a orfundamentalist ulema TheMuslim1960s. the by Algeria and East Middle the Egypt, in felt presence its making already extremepoliticalforfundamentalism,carpetMuslim red wasawhich out roll education,would forvehicle only the Koran,as the oflanguage the Arabic, on What is striking about this struggle is its essentially cultural nature. Most nature. cultural essentially its is struggle this about striking is What over fluttering freely was Algeria of independentflag the as soon as Almost 111

- - - Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 ofliberation was aheroic struggle. There was no doubt about that in Matoub’s war the and heroes, were They night. at late village the into sneak would who Matoub struggle, independence the Mountains, of mujahidin the fighters, Djurdjura freedom the venerated the in boy young a many like and however, teachers, French certain for respect his Despite colonialism’. of creation a is Berber ‘the that claim to nationalistArab staunch a many led centuries,tieth languages and the ancient poetry, Tifinagh alphabet in the Berber nineteenth and early twen of study the revive to much did who philologists French and historiansFrench was it that fact the and Kabylia, in teachers French preponder of ance This life. whole his in Arabic of words few a than more learned never He Tamazight. only spoke he home at and French, in entirely was ing schoolMatoub’scharges. young their of minds the intothought, and culture French of aspectspositive the of many with alongidentity, andhistory Berber of sense a inculcate would Kabylia, in schools rural many ran who Fathers, he life,’ of way a Christian French the into which in way the appreciate school did he Nevertheless,wrote. bush the made ‘I wild. running and rabbits trapping mates, his with fields the in off be to preferred he and boredom by world. the depict to which with wordsevocative and rich of trove Matoub’s mother was illiterate, but like many Kabyles she possessed a treasure villains. and heroes princes, feasts, and kings henna of tales Berber weddings, old and music parties; at evenings, the in home at day, the during fields the in work everywhere,at on Music-makingwentveins. his in blood the with childhood, especially his motherMatoub’s Aldja andof his grandmother,women who mixedthe music also was It war. full-blown a of midst the in around men their without home a keeping and family a raising of responsibility the yearsgrewheamongandsoup women, strong women, thekindwhocanbear Djurdjura the of ten past the flanks for France in working and living been northern had father HisMountains. the on beauty great of village a Moussa, Hewas born in 1956, in the middle of a bitingly cold Kabyle winter, in Taourirt rest of my life.’ In many ways his beginnings were that of the Kabyle Everyman. the for rebel a be I’ll am. still turbulent, I was ‘Iwrote, LounèsMatoub(1995), Childhood andstrangefruit struggle.Berber the is nutshell a in That lines. democratic and multi-culturalegalitarian, lar, generalgovernedacceptancesecualongAlgeriasecond,shouldbeathat and business; government and commerce schools, in use for suitable language, From the start ‘trouble’ was Matoub’s middle name. School was death death was School name. middle Matoub’s was ‘trouble’ start the From autobiography his of pages the in childhood early his on Musing 112 Rebelle - - - -

113 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 112 During the 1960s, Algeria seduced many into thinking it was a model socialistmodela was1960s,Algeriathinking Duringseducedintothe itmany of a colonized people over its colonizers that the late twentieth century ever saw. greatestthevictoriesof one was world.It thetheirbeaconrevolution for a was begun. had flirtation lifelonghaunting A real. and intimateclose, death; encounter first with his was Itlife. his of restthe forMatoub’smind in lodged stayed image The heat. evening the in morosely buzzing faces, and eyes their covered Flies sun-cracked. and black already was skin Their the mujahidin. by executed been had they and French, the with collaborated who traitors to weretree.Theyhanging threeamen from pride. Kabylia’s was fighters freedom the impenetrableterritorytotheir thegavesheltercontoursthat of The mind. Matoubbelonged thegenerationto Algeriansof whogrewbelievingup that bodiesof theMatoubsaw youngschool, thefrom back way his onday, One 113 harkis , the name given by Algeriansgivenbyname the , Sipa Press). 1998 (©Ouahad, was murderedin brutal attacks,but several He survived ning ofthe1990s. Algeria inthebegin he wasimprisonedin Lounès Matoubwhile for thereleaseof people demonstrated 8 Thousandsof

- Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 touch it for a while. Eventually, with the help of some older local musicians, local older some of help the with Eventually, while. a for it dare touch even didn’t he that object splendid this by awed so was Matoub Paris. in shop music Beuscher Paul the bought at cash been hard-earned had senior’s Matoub It with son. his for gift a as music, Kabyle modern in popular beautiful a he him family, with his bought with down settle to exile economic of years from back came eventually father Matoub’s When gatherings. and parties at playing started even and songs few a mastered He tackle. fishing some and wood of length a can, oil old an of out guitar a himself made already had he Moussa Taourirt ever.thanrebellious and illusioned disgusted,nation,moredissolvednothing.awaydis-theintoMatoubcame of unifier and father people, the of liberator colonizer, the of scourge army, ary everydingy hole andcorner. Theheroic vision ofthegreat Algerian revolution in lurked police secret Boumediénne’s‘idiot’. and ‘traitor’ unity’, national of ‘enemy‘peasant’,insults:‘backwoods‘yokel’,kid’, ofplethora attracteda and lowArabconscripts. HislackArabicof andhisKabyle origins marked himout fel sufferedprejudicehis also the officer of command ranks. He highandthe of corruption cynical the witnessed Matoub nightmare. a was itself life Army him. disgusted received they treatment The border. the over back sent and rounded up and forcibly evicted from their homes in Oran and western Algeria Matoubsaw Moroccan families, with many fellow Berbers among them, being Sahara. Western the of question the over Morocco with war a provoked just had Algeria 1975. in service military compulsory his for Oran to sent was he Algeria’sdescentintohellbegan,’ wrote Matoub. thatthen generation.was ‘Ita momentumdestructiveof the andbrokepolicy understood.anyonehardlyblindArabic,whichThis of EasternformMiddle a importthousands second-rateof teachers fromEgyptSyria,and taught who in to had state the teachers, French sacked by left vacancies the fill to order In onlyBerberFrench,or likeMatoub, wereeffectively robbedtheirofeducation. Theforced Arabization ofschools in1968 was also traumatic. Many who spoke country, afraid to speak their own language except in staunchly Berber enclaves. The result of this failed adventure was that Berbers became pariahs in their own Arabic.things all reject them making and radicalizingthemeffect, traumatic a had 1964 of uprising Ahmed’s Aït Kabyles, many For brewing. was trouble surface,the under But free. andAlgerian be to proud were youth The visit. to non-alignedofCuba,nations everywhere.CastrocameFidelGuevara and Che state, a dynamo of new thinking and new ideas and a natural leader, along with For solace and mental survival, Matoub began to compose poems. Back in Back poems. compose to began Matoubsurvival, mental and solaceFor when nightmare a into turned finally dream revolutionary own Matoub’s mandole 114 a id f ag, lnae mandolin elongated large, of kind a , - -

115 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 114 father was broken by the news. the by broken was father flush. The shame was excruciating, but honour bound him to pay the debt. His table,andafter particularlya badrun atpoker helost the card the at regular a also was Matoub However,entertainer. café and party a as reputation local lively a built even and instrument the master to began he former protégé: former needed. was it when shelter him gave even and ropes the him showed wing, his under Matoub took Inouva’, Vava‘A hit international enormous his to thanks time hanging out. Idir, who was probably the most famous Kabyle singer alive at the and expat cafés community,Kabyle the playing in of cultural life the fixture in a became slowly he where Paris, to moved he afterwards Soon cafés. in émigré songs his playing by money, good money, earn could he that discover to astonished was he Alps French the in Annemasse of town the In France. for Kabylesmanyperleftsobefore:whatdoneMatoub didheAlgeriahad former – in public a as career a out ruled which too, Tamazight in all – poems and songs of full head a and education stunted a with man young a for future no Exile inParis andtheBerberspring honesty.may-care devil- of kind aunderlined withevenconstantly revealed andbut overglossed strikingself-portrait inasmuchMatoub’sasfailingsweaknesses andnever are foolishness. and courage cheek, intensity, of combination rare Matoub, a was That court. of contempt for jail in month one was answer The yourself?’sparecigarette?’magistrate.theasaid gotaskedMatoub. ‘Haveyou I will release you, but I never want to see you again. Have you anything to say for local jail and then brought in front of the magistrate. ‘Because you are a minor a nights’detentionintwo given was insult.He somefor razor a someonewith temper. quick-fire a by spurred engine, inner Matoub’s drove passion savage almost An life. full a living to barrier a of much too becamethey if asidebrushed then just and confronted tested, be to there were fear and danger shame, pain, manyenemies,madehimvehiclealsothegreatness.washis it of but For him, mouth His life. histhroughout him to doggedlyitself attach would that title a wasMouth’ ‘Big fact In too.mouth his and hand, his ruledheartwayward His n rcn itriw dr ae n nrgig hrce assmn o his of assessment character intriguing an gave Idir interview recent a In offer to Kabyliaseemed in life and dreams, his crushed had army the After In This one dolorous little tale paints Matoub in all his vividness and darkness. Rebelle , Matoub talks of an incident in a barber’s shop, when he sliced he when shop, barber’s a in incident an of talks Matoub , 115 mandole on a bustedona Rebelle s a is

- Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 rw, dt Pa ad eei aog ay tes I ws lot s f the if as almost was It others. many among Genesis James and Stones, Piaf Edith Rolling Brown, the by visits memorable of scene L’Olympia, venue Izem bluntly.said once he myself,’censor don’t ‘I meaning. their in stark often but allusions, and colours their in rich unadorned, simple, world, mountain own his from came words His style. Matoub’s wasn’t imagery.That symbolic pulled back from head-on confrontation, and couched their protest in rich and North African context, where musicians and songwriters had always previously a in extreme is confrontation of spiritbare-knuckled their But Bragg. Billy or his lyrics don’t seem violent, just challenging in the manner of early Bob Dylan Westernear a To songs. his of‘violence’ the to referredoften musicMatoub’s about wrote who journalists Algerian Many anger.’ my is Music songs. my in anger my out shouted I lyrics. protest convincing any have didn’t ‘They said. ‘When I started, modern songs didn’t carrylyrics. that needhis to expressof anger,’provocation he once and power simplicity, the of terms in go to wanted Dziriya.’Fadila or Anka El hear I when gliding myself feel I childhood. my of music the also was Chaabi music. his in rebellion of spirit the to and Azem Slimane to closer I’m message, the of terms in But him. to belong TechnicallyI me. dazzles scales and tempo his in accuracy the cision, the told once he Hasnaoui,’ El Cheikh of steps Muslim tastes in Algeria until the 1970s and even beyond. ‘I’m following in the and others, among Thefoundation of Matoub’s music is the Kabyle songs of Azem and Hasnaoui, wonder. and emotion with charged was Azem with meeting his and singers, two these of thrall in up grown had Matoub generation, his of Kabyles most Like 1960s. and 1950s the in music Kabyle popular modern of the foundations laying for responsible was Hasnaoui, El Slimane Cheikh singer with the along heroes, who, great Azem, his of one met he There Mutualité. La at musicKabyle of concert a attendedParis,Matoub in arrived he after long Not intimate side, the suffering and the inner pain. That’s the part of him I liked. I It wasn’t so much his activist side which interested me. It was above all his Fame followed fast on the heels of the release of Matoub’s first album, first Matoub’s of release the of heels the on fast followed Fame Matoubas farprevious Kabyleasnogone that singerhad wastruth the But talent. wounds of the heart. He had this sensitive streak which was the root of his side that had nothing to do with being militant and everything to do with the commander. But that intimate side of him could be felt in certain songs, a in his ambiguities too. Later he came to be considered a myth, hero, a brigade saw that he was a man, more in the ilk of Verlaine, in his non-conformism and (The Lion), in 1978. By 1980, he was already headliningalreadyParis’slegendarywas he 1980, By 1978. in Lion),(The chaabi , or the popular music of Algiers which dominated which Algiers of music popular the or , 116 Le Matin Le newspaper. ‘The pre newspaper.‘The 1 Ay -

117 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 116 In the end, typically, it was a cultural contretemps which lit the fuse. the lit whichcontretemps cultural a was it typically,end, the In crack. and lift to beginning finally was 1964 in uprising the of defeat the after territory the on lead of blanket a like descended had thatsubmissiveness cal homeinKabylia towards theend of1979 andthe early part of1980. Thepoliti back brewing been had Trouble ordained. divinely was concert the of timing flood, offering new channels of information and cultural education which education andcultural ofinformation channels new offering flood, clubs,recordlabelscommunity and groupsappeared likebloomsflashaftera sporting houses, publishing groups, theatre newspapers, stations, radio New colonialpower,oldFrance.the AfricanNorthculture, inmediapoliticsof and populations.Thisnewopportunity spawnedthe‘Beur’ movement, floweringa immigrant to available became associations cultural and political of system new a 1980, in France of president as election Mitterrand’s After movement. the of pipers pied the were They revolt. gathering the of bards the were They Idir.and Allam Djamel Menguellet, Aït Mehenni, Ferhat Lounès, Matoub like singers to turned they courage and unfolding zeal insight, the inspiration, of for But abreast drama. them keep to station radio odd the and lications pub Berber expat on rely state-controlled to forced the were France in in Kabyles events media, Algerian of analysis or coverage credible any the of lack to Owing power. extraordinary of status a to them, called Yacine Kateb writer Kabyle the as song’ of guerrillas ‘the singers, Kabyle of breed new the elevated Spring Berber The charged. highly was event The homeland. his in raging was that ‘war’ the with solidarity his expressing thereby fatigues, army people. its of passions the boiled and nation Kabyle the of sinews political the strengthened which event pivotal a Northern Ireland or the Soweto uprising in South Africa, the Berber Spring was inSunday BloodyAlgerians.Like all of butBerbers of onlyfrustration notand angerAlgerianexpressingnation,the the conscience of the were they that felt Kabylessince. ever celebrations and gatheringsparties, day marches,protests, of a been has Berber, in ‘Tafsut’ as known year, each April 20 on uprising Algerianindependence. radicalizedItgeneration, aanniversary theandthe of since dissent of show large-scale popular overtly first the was It significant. enormously was Spring’, ‘Berber the as known became which uprising, This injured.hundred two than more and killed were people thirty Over Benjedid. Chadlipresident, new the by denounced and forces security the by repressed brutally was which revolt, all-out an into grew protests student resulting The momentthe authorities smelled Berberist subversion and banned the lecture. a lecture on traditional Berber poetry at the University of Tizi Ouzou. At the last In the midst of the uprising Matoub took the stage at L’Olympiaindressed at stage the uprisingtookMatoub the ofmidst the In The revered Kabyle writer and Berberist Mouloud Mammeri was due to give 117

- - Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 today if he had only desisted from visiting Algeria. But homesickness was an was homesickness But Algeria. visiting from desisted only had he if today Five bulletsandthedangers ofhomesickness d’Amsterdam.Rue the in car passing a in Africans North of group a by at shot was Matoublater weeks few A since.availablebeen never has and afterwardssoon deleted was It out. it put to agreed Jew Tunisian a end the In lease the album featuring the song. All of them received threats not to touch it. re would who community music African North the in producer single a find couldn’tMatoub sea. the into Arabs the throw to wanting of himaccused and tion’ was a betrayal. The left-wing to make up for purely pragmatic reasons. Matoub felt that this ‘false reconcilia who had fought each other mercilessly in the early sixties but had now decided men two Ahmed, Aït and Bella Ben betweenAccords London thedenouncing song a wrote Matoub later years few A Paris. in prison Santé La in month one spent and police the by abuse racist with showered beaten, arrested, was He him. killed he’d thought He abdomen. the in producer the stabbed Matoub brawl streetensuing thelobby. Duringthe in rantedproducer the while knife a fetched and room hotel his to up rushed Matoub retribution. and revenge to attitudes similar worryingly have Corsica and Kabylia – avenged be to had insults producer’s The money. him owed who producer music a with fight a picked he Once reasons. wrong the all for dangerous and exciting intensely eightiestheAsprogressed Matoub’soccasionmouthhadlifealsomakebig to in wrote 1990s early the in ParisL’Atlas in at concerts Lounès Matoub nine of series a of one attended who reviewer A passion.that and clarity that on fed Berbers,youngespecially Africans, North passionate.andclear was message Histimes. the bull’s-eyeof the hit revolt of home. at back media and culture of control state oppressive the circumvent to Algerians allowed Despite these unnerving incidents, Matoub Lounès might still be alive alive be still might Lounès Matoub incidents, unnerving these Despite thanks to a system made gangrenous by a bunch of criminals. sings about their pains and their hopes which have been tragically blighted ly raids, corruption and the proliferation of ills in our country. Cheikh Lounès brought a ray of hope to people crushed by the cost of living, the riots, the dead overwhelmed fans. The presence of Matoub at L’Atlas, a total event in itself, has grandeur of a rite, a rite full of flowers which are offered every ten minutes by an audience completely dedicated to a cause … The concerts of Lounès have the How does one describe the perfect symbiosis between the artist on stage with surfer.rebela likewaveMatoubthisLounèsrode plainly spokenHis words Libération 118 ParcoursMaghrebin newspaper called Matoub a fascist , - - -

119 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 118 the day of his death, when they suddenly realized that they didn’t possess a possess didn’t they that realized suddenly they when death, his of day the until music his broadcast never company, TV and radiostate-owned Algerian national the RTA,that fact the despite country, home his in famous now was wrote (Matoub 1995). The problem with going back, however, was that Matoub he good,’ really feel I where place only the and consolation my hole, bolt my refuge, my is country ‘That Kabyles. many for was it as affliction, unbearable again and their interventions often made matters worse. Infections multiplied together back him put to position no in was servicehealth Algerian atrocious hygienically and under-equipped The femur. right his shattered and testine unrest. withsmouldering still city a Algiers, in Orangers des to the hospital in Tizi Ouzou. After three days he was evacuated to the Clinique taken to Aïn el Hammam, every bump in the road doubling his agony, and then into the body of the horrified and astounded singer. Matoub collapsed. He was revolver and shot Matoub in the arm, after which he emptied four more rounds suddenly, without any clear cause or reason, one Then of the policemen took out pursuers. his furious his from abuse of broadside a to treated and cuffed thanthesomewhat more lenient local police, hebegan toworry. Hewashand quasi-militarythefromweretheythatsaw he When Défense Nationale, rather pursuers. his confronted and car the stopped gendarmerie, local the at stuff rough of bit a or drubbing verbal a than more nothing expecting innocently Matoub, roads, mountain snaking the along chase brief a After them. after sped and turned then and past raced them, of front in appeared car police a sudden a of All flyers. more out hand to cars and trucks passingstopped they thenearby town ofAïn elHammam todistribute more flyers there. On the way to drive to decided then Matoub students, of couple a with Together Algiers. in workersand students rioting of support in strikenationaltwo-day a for ing call flyers distribute to University Ouzou Tizi of front in students of group a dissentofwerespurting everywhere. upOctober, 9 MatoubOn decided join to of plates tectonic the when geysersimmenseand explosiveway most the inshifting weresocietyAlgerian unrest, radical of time a was It 1988. October singer.protestno-good a andshit-stirrer atroublemaker, a as Islamists the and government the forces, security the among notoriety you brought it when curse deadly even dangerous, a was Algeria in fame But baseamongyoung Kabyles andotherAlgerians Algeriain itself wasnowhuge. fan Matoub’sstations, radio associative French and cassettescheap of media ‘alternative’ the to thanks However, lived. ever who singers Algerian greatest the of one of interview taped or recording studio footage, live of piece single Matoub’s body was a wreck. One of the bullets had sliced through his in his through sliced had bullets the of One wreck. a was body Matoub’s in way dramatic very a in fame his of downside the experienced Matoub 119

- - - Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 meted in the mid-1980s, the country’s only real source of hard currency currency hard of a been always had what source and bills its pay real longer no could state The only dwindled. country’s the mid-1980s, the in meted Fundamentalism andthedescent intohell trial. to brought never was Matoubmurdered almost had who cop the say, to Needless wrote. he defeated,’ were Hamman El Aïn of bullets five couldhaveannihilated endedreinforcingme,up knew thattheThatIme.day headstrong gluttony for life and its inevitable punishments. ‘Aggression, which defiant, his was Such stadium. football Ouzou’s Tizi in concert emotional an at perform to bag, colostomy and crutches his with Kabylia to back went and 1995). (Matoubhappiness’ appreciate to you helps respectSuffering,life.true,toit’sobliges whichyou debt of kind thisfeel ‘you withoutlosingyour life.‘When flirted hasone closely so with death,’ wrote, he so do to possiblewas it asintimately as suffering and pain knew who one but theoreticallongera noartist,Peoplewas veneratedthat.He lovedandfor him theone singer who could speak ofits horrors from direct personal experience. power.As murder and violence became daily facts of Algerian life, Matoub was to magnetismandspecialthereafter carriedwords whose anddeath, cheekwith cheek danced had who man a hero, existential an into mouth big a with wide. and far from gifts and letters more many and bedside, his by well-wishers of hundreds literally received he Algiers In posing songs, which saved his sanity through the long months of recuperation. com and singing spent time the with together fans, his and Matoub’s family of support sustained and ardent the only was difficulty. It extreme with Matoub bore sensitive and proud the that indignity an bag, colostomy carry a to around him forcing damaged, permanently were intestine and bowels his all, it cap to And life. his of rest the for limp would other.He the than shorter centimetres five measuring up ended it and Algiers in badlyoperation an was after legsset his of One atrocious. were scars His despair. of brink the to him deprivationdrovemorphine treatment,althoughmomentum, gatheredrecovery his better with There, Paris. for leave to permit a given was Matoub intentional,delays,say to tortuousbureaucraticneedless,notwranglings and Eventually,sight.destroyeverythingafterin to wanted just he momentswhen and depression deep with cope to had also He addicted. became eventually nurses The pain. startedto administer Dolossal, a morphine-based excruciating painkiller, to which Matoub and constant in days his spent Matoub and Meanwhile Algeria was plunging into hell. When oil and gas prices plum prices gas and oil When hell. into plunging was Algeria Meanwhile After six weeks at the Beaujon hospital in Paris, Matoub discharged himself Those five bullets exalted his reputation, turning him from a popular singer 120 - -

121 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 120 choices on offer. The Front Islamique du Salud (FIS), an ascendant fundamen the by unenthuseddecidedlyAlgerians many with low, was turnout voter The 1991. December in held was round first The independence. since elections parliamentary and presidential multi-party free first the announcedBenjedid drasticmeasures,PresidenttakeChadli to 1988 massivenationwide ofunrest the by Forceddisintegrate. to began times, of best the at even society, fragile movement went underground.went movement The gun, the bomb and the knife took over from the ballot box and the Islamic action.direct for come had time The them.betrayed had systempolitical The robbed. and cheated felt followers their and FIS democracy.The of name the militaryelections.secondd’état,annulacouptheroundinof wasallto wasIt andappointed HighStatea Council rulehistoplace.in Theirfirst officeact in purposely provoked a constitutional crisis by forcing Chadli Benjedid to resign He mind. his in doubt little had rulingNezzar, KhaledMajor-General council, thearmy of strongman The anyway? with comfortable felt never had they that democracy a for dominance political own their sacrificing worth it Was fledged Islamic state in Algeria? Should they let democracy destroy democracy? fully a heraldtherebyand ahead go electionsto the of roundsecond the allow they Should dilemma. excruciating an with Algeria, in power ultimate held still who generals, army the presented FIS the of victory first-round The God. populace. theyusedmosques andreligiously inspired welfare programmes seduceto the of their programme. The FIS were also masters of grass-roots organization, and were more like gut rejections of the previous regime than positive endorsements provideanswerthepeople’sto needs, although manyvotestheircastfavourin unambiguousandproud identity, however bogus itmaybe. The FIS seemed to sociallydeprivedpeople,anmore inclinedatherockof thecling to to they are oppressed and more The Islamic. and defiantly Arabic wasalternative thatan communism, and socialism as such ideologies Western failed to alternative an provide to seemed also It state. FLNone-party the mismanagementof the and corruption poverty, of years by crushed population a of sections certain for attractions definite held programme This all. at place no absolutely have democracy, the rights of women and the aspirations of ethnic whichminorities inwould law shariah of precepts the to according run state Islamic an goal was clear: ultimate Their problems. deep-rooted complex, to solutions eyed victory.overwhelmingan talistIslamic party led by the imprisoned Abassi Madani and Ali Benhadj, won But in the fundamentalist mind, democracy is a heresy and a sin against sin a and heresy a is democracy mind, fundamentalist the in But Like many extremist political organizations, the FIS offered simplistic, starry- 121

- Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 to die, have you decided to pray?’ ‘Obviously,’ replied Matoub. ‘Lounès,’‘Obviously,’cameMatoub.pray?’replied to decided you have die, to leader, whose war name was Hamza, said to Matoub, ‘NowTheir you’re gettingMatoub!’ ready It’s him. ‘It’s up. went cry The belt. his in self-protection for kept Matoub that gun the found they Eventually shot. be would he business ungodly an such run to continued he if that warning the with proprietor the and rifles hunting sawn-off shotguns knives, burst into the bar. with They searched the place, pistol-whipping armed men fifteen sudden, a of All me-up. pick- a for caféroadside a at off stop to decidedthey when Ouzou Tizi to back friends. with night the into late drink and talk to cafés to went still he But roadblocks. false up set often GIA the where roads, main avoiding of precaution the took he Instead leave. It would look too much like a climb-down, a loss of courage and a defeat. to refused stubbornly and bluntly he But next. was Matoub that proclaiming Ouzou Tizi in appear to began Posters Paris. of safety the to back go to him urged Friends blacklist.terrorists’ the on was he that rumours hear to began fundamentalistterrorist violence was reaching its murderous apogee, Matoub annual ‘Tafsut’ celebrations commemorating the Berber Spring. In 1994, when the for there be to tried always he and long, for Kabylia from away stay never could he activists, and groups Berber of networkinternational an of help the The onlyonewholivedtotellthetale mine.’ exploit to it want don’t ‘I wrote. heconsciences,’ aiding and abetting of Islamic terrorism them in Kabylia suspected and beyond. He ‘Religion exploits process. the in themselves enriching and people the faithsimple of the on preyingcontrolledtraditionalKabylesociety, who men, good Muslim. In any case, he had never had any time for the marabouts, or holy a as image his improve to helped this of None most. loved he people the with touch in keeping of lovedway his was Itfriends. to chatting cafés, Hein timespending drink. to liked Matoub Furthermore, God. of enemies musicians and sin a was music that view their in unequivocal were (GIA) Group Islamic womenwho refused the veil and, of course, musicians. The FIS and the Armed young teachers, journalists, doctors, intellectuals, evolve: society help might that anythingdestroy to fundamentalistswanted the concerned, was Matoub as far As Islam!’ – Faith One Arabs! The – People One Algeria! – Nation ‘One documentary, in a blatant refutation of the FLN’s rallying cry at independence: nationalism. ‘I’m neither an Arab nor a Muslim,’ he once famously said in a TV Matoub had even less love for fundamentalist Islam than he did for Arabic for did he thanfundamentalist Islamfor love less even had Matoub One night in later September, Matoub and a couple of friends were drivingwerefriends of couple a andSeptember,Matoub later in night One touringabroadwithFranceand in time his of lot AlthoughaMatoubspent 122

123 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 122 ecution seemed to be forever only a few hours away. The young members of members young The away. hours few a only forever be to seemed ecution ex own His presence. constant a was death captivity, Matoub’s of weeks two Matoub. with night rainy the into departedrillas guer theclients, other the of somebeating and till the ofproceeds the taking thestern answer, ‘it’s better to be alive and scared than heroic and dead.’ After I lived my own death.’ A captured policeman was executed only ten feet away feet ten only executed was policemancaptured A death.’ own my lived I times, hundred ‘One wrote. he times,’ hundred one assassination my agined im ‘I detail. minutest the in obsessively, end own his pictured He thoughts. his dominated which death was it mostly But alive. him want just might they his use and scheme this of popularity part As fans. his influence todeclarations his and promisestaped manipulate to planning be might GIA the that already.suspecteddeadhim was Part of hebecause fear tonothing was death that himself telling kept and them, believe to refused He released. be might aims. political its up give to movement Berber the persuade to try also would He he money.that promised some him lend to offered turn in to guerrillas business, the end respectable which a open and singing up give to promised He stay to alive. anything said Matoub literally, and proverbially gun, a of barrel the down Looking Islam. adopted and praying started he if him awaited Paradise faith. true the embraced and musician a of life ungodly the renounced had who YoussefIslam, aka Stevens, Cat of example the follow to him urged They nuance. without and simple were arguments Their darkness.’ in wallowing is Kabylia songs, your and you of ‘Because him. told they God,’ of enemy the are ‘You matter. that for music any or music, his to listened never they that judges intimateanhad knowledge poemslyrics,hisand ofeventhoughHis theyclaimed him. discredit to later used be could beliefs core contra- his expedient of dictions own his that so tape, on recorded was trial His to death. prayer tearful day. a times thefive heldguerrillas the which sessions with in joined even He cunning. and wit were strategies survival possible only his felt Matoub action. every their of justification the GIA. The will of God was the simple motivation behind their every thought and the of camps mountain remote stinking the political in on little went discourse or analysis how by astounded was Matoub paradise. into entry sequent sub- and Islam of cause the in martyrdom own their of idea the to resigned glorified completely also andwere boastedThey revelled it,Theyaboutit. it in time. the all death about spoke captive him holding were who group GIA the In the second week of his captivity Matoub began to hear rumours that he that rumours hear to began Matoubcaptivity his of week second the In sentenced and leaders, GIA or ‘Emirs’, two by tried was Matoub Eventually the Throughout GIA. the by kidnapped being survived ever had one No 123

- - - Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 in favour of an all-out war on religious fanaticism and terrorism. Kabyle society so far as to ally itself with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the army generals wenteven outright, andnotion rejectedthisfundamentalistRCD Thegroups. peacestabilityand couldonlywonthroughbe dialogue withotherandFISthe mentCulturepourlaDémocratiela et (RCD). believedFFSThe thatultimately politicalnewmovementcalled Rassembleaother the and partyAhmed’s FFS Aït supported One factions. two into split had movement Berber the 1990s are almost non-existent. Matoub had his doubters and his enemies. In the early inspiration.’my and strength my take I which equilibrium,thatfrompermanent forsearch a is life ‘Mywrote. hesongs,’ my ideas,strugglefulfil link betweenmy tothe life and andis my thingme for essential ‘The apart. him set power and clarity such of songs in feelings and experienceshisexpress to able was he that fact the But 1992.after decade the unique. It is estimated that almost 200,000 people were murdered in Algeriafrom in far been had GIA the with encounter traumatic his course, Of himself. songs and writing his autobiography were the only forms of therapy he allowed now suffered from regular panic attacks for which he took Valium. Composing Matoub on. went was, it asprecarious Life, 1993. in GIA the by murdered was who Matoub’s, of friend close a Djaout, Tahar writer Kabyle the of daughter The chronicleofadeathforetold now.’stronger even be will struggle intimidationmusic,songs,mytomyMy in give would theynot that… show to they had no choice … For the first time a whole region mobilized, arms in hand, because me freed terrorists ‘The wrote. he setback,’ first their was liberation aboutthesignificance his own escapeof from the clutches the fanatics.of ‘My hisexecution wastoohotevenhandle.fortheGIAto Matoub wasunequivocal end, the In Gun!’ the or ‘Matoub chanting Algiers and Ouzou Tizi of streets the to took thousands of Tens him. for look to areas mountain remote the of dangers the braved had youths of Groups killed. were Matoub if war all-out threatening GIA, the to ultimatum an sent had (MCB) Berbère Cultural ment Matoub began to find out what had happened during his absence. The Mouve him, greet to gathered well-wishers of thousands where Moussa, Taourirt in family his rejoining After unbounded. were relief and joy His released. and mind. of state his with games playing fun had they andKabylia of tion from him. His captors considered Matoub responsible for the moral degenera Nothing in Algerian politics is simple, and pure, unsullied Algerian heroesAlgerianunsullied pure, and simple, is politicsAlgerian in Nothing afterwards,Soon Matoubreleasedalbumhis Yenni Ath of village the to driven was Matoub October, 10 on Eventually, 124 Kenza . It was dedicatedthewas to It . - - -

125 Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 124 was an MCB loyalist through and through. ‘It represents that which is most is which that represents ‘It through. and through loyalist MCB an was Matoub 1980s. late the in RCD the of creation the behind also was and 1960s late the in MCB the founded had who andman the Sadi, Saïd of ferventadmirerdeclared a was he Nevertheless, him. for interest no held machinations political that and poet a was he that claimed always Matoub friend. against friend and neighbouragainstneighbour turning lines, party these along split have supported during his life. Her argument is that since the RCD allied itself to supposed was Matoub that party political one the RCD, the on focused are they claim were responsible for his eventual murder. Ironically, her suspicions that forces dark the expose to trying still are FoundationLounès Matoub the the assumption that the GIA were Matoub’s killers. Matoub’s onsister Malika and doubt casting documentary a The broadcast beyond. even Canal+ and channel death TV French his of day the until up right him dogged ter-claim said. he person,’ this about told be will mythomania and megalomania. ‘In the future, for each proffered lie, ten truths of him accusing Matoub, denounced and public went Meguellet Aït reserved normally The arrangement. this of proof have to claimed even the Matoub from GIA. protection own his buying of troubles, the throughout Kabylia in reside to continued who Meguellet, Aït accused and France, in station radio African North biggest the FM, Beur on went He insult. grave a was silence his Matoub, Forjournalists. by pressed when kidnappingMatoub’s on comment everybody.’and everything let-up, without doubt, to is another, or camp one between choose to pressured populace, the to left freedom only ‘the wrote, she country,’ the plungedAlgerianshadowshasthetheatrewhichevilpeople.thisintoof to ‘In Libération inwritingprivately.journalist CatherineSimon,theinsight,so great didWith others many and publicly, doubts own his expressedFerhat singer The tight. water hitherto been had victims kidnap their all murdering of record whose the only logical explanation for Matoub’s escape from the GIA, an organization kidnap, in order to enhance his reputation and that of the RCD. For them it was terings began to be heard. Certain parties accused Matoub of ‘staging’ his own mut dark down, died had diaspora the of rest the and Paris Algiers, Kabylia, himself.despite fray, political the into him dragged this and supporter, RCD an be to considered important for us Kabyles: our identity,’ he declared. By association, he was also This sorry débâcle became known as the Matoub affair. Claim and coun and Claim affair. Matoub the as known became débâcle sorry This to refused Algerians, and Kabyles many by revered singer a Meguellet, Aït in celebrations joyous the and GIA the by released was Matoub after Soon , pointed out that doubt was one of the few political reactions left reactions political few the of one was doubt that out pointed , 125

- - - Guerrilla of pop of Guerrilla Africa | 13 Matoub, Lounès(1995) Reference singers ever. Note road. mountainlonely that up off drove and sisters, two her and wife his with car the into climbed he as steps his dogged that foreboding and fate of web tangled the capture to attempt could poet a Only death. with rendezvous final his for home back and Contrary bull. a stubborn to to the last, Matoub rags turned a deaf ear redto all the warnings and like travelled just were risks Matoub for end, the in But certain.’ I’m that of warning, any without and skin, my have will nappers kid my time Next nightmare. the reprieved,’from me beensaved pressure‘Popular wrote. have he I know ‘I taking. was he risks the knew He visa. a get her help to order in home, back Nadja wife new hisaccompany to decided he what became his last album, to touches final the put had he After long. very for Kabylia beloved his from away stay couldn’t Matoub But so. him told even They Algeria. to returning chronicle of a death foretold’. People thought he was mad even to contemplate a formula.’ into fits nothing and unambiguous is Nothing conflicts. its and contradictions its contrasts, its reveals it moment every At unique. ‘Algeriais As the great Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski wrote way back in the 1960s: medusa.impenetrable and deathly one into blend sometimes all they – party that party, this GIA, government, FIS, and Army, Algeria. crime modern in of punishment nature the that’s But fly. accusations the while dream suffers the which is it ultimately and dream, similar a share RCD, or FFS whether frustrationcontroversydespair.anythingthanthisotherandwith Kabyles, All spade, it is equally hard to imagine that Matoub himself would have looked on a spade a call and off mouth to tendency natural Berber his despite the And movement. of heart the at infighting fractious this all at glee in hands their continues. case Foundation.The Lounès Matoub the and her Malikaclaims tohave evidence toback upher accusations. The RCD are suing The party was only doing the government’s dirty business for them. Once again withtheregime, haditthemeans andthemotivation eradicateto herbrother. . MohammedHadjElAnkaandFadila Dziriyaareamongthegreatest 1. ‘the like was end Matoub’s that wrote once journalist perspicacious A Algeria, rule generals, rubbingarmywho mafia imaginethetheto easy is It Rebelle , Paris: EditionsStock. Lettre ouverte aux 126 … , the thirty-sixth of his career, chaabi

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