Cheb Hasni
Cheb Hasni, born Hasni Chakroun on February 1, 1968, in Oran, Algeria, was a famous raï singer. He was known as "The King of Sentimental Music" and "le rossignol du raï." He became one of the most loved Algerian artists of the late 1980s and early 1990s, with fans across the Maghreb.
Hasni came from a working‑class family. He had seven siblings, his father was a welder and his mother stayed at home. He loved football as a kid but stopped after a serious injury at 15. He also enjoyed making music and would sing wherever he could.
His big break came after a local wedding performance and then at a cabaret called La Guinguette. He later recorded with Chaba Zahouania. In 1987 they released "Beraka" (The Shack), a bold song about love and desire. The song brought him fame but also controversy and threats from extremists.
Hasni married Malika Zahzouh in 1987. They had a son, Abdellah, in 1989. His wife inspired many of his hits, including "Tal Ghyabek ya ghzali" and "El Bayda mon amour." Because of restrictions at home, he often performed abroad in cities like Paris, Marseille, Boston, Washington, Tunis, Casablanca, and Tokyo. His last home concert was in 1993 in Algiers for Independence Day, with about 150,000 fans.
Hasni was murdered on September 29, 1994, outside his parents' home in Oran. The killer was never found, and his death is linked to the violence of Islamist extremists in Algeria at the time.
His music helped reshape raï and gave a voice to many young people facing social and political challenges. He released over 100 recordings and sold around 400,000 cassettes. He influenced other artists, including Cheb Nasro, and in 2017 he was awarded the National Order of Merit after his death.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:30 (CET).