Hamdi Benani

Hamdi Benani (Arabic: حمدي بناني; 1 January 1943 – 21 September 2020) was an Algerian singer and musician.[1][2]

Hamdi Benani
Born1 January 1943
Annaba, French Algeria
Died21 September 2020(2020-09-21) (aged 77)
Annaba, Algeria
Occupation(s)Singer, musician

Biography

Benani was born in Annaba in 1943.[3] His uncle, M'hamed El Kourd, encouraged him to start singing because of the quality of his voice and interpretive ability.[4] He won his first prize while singing at the age of 16.

He first gained notoriety in 1963 with the song Ya Bahi El Djamel, which drove him to pursue a career in singing and violin. He brought new life to the Malouf genre of music with the tracks Mahbounati and Adala Ya Adala, which earned him great public success.[5] This helped him be noticed by senior members of the Malouf singing community, such as Hassen El Annabi, Mohamed Tahar Fergani, and Abdelmoumène Bentobal.

Benani was nicknamed "l'ange blanc" (The White Angel) because he was always seen in a white suit with his white violin. He helped modernize the Malouf genre by using ancestral themes alongside modern instruments and new themes in the texts.[6]

Benani's final work was a cooperation with Folktronica band Speed Caravan on recording their third album Nuba Nova' in 2020.[7]

Death

Hamdi Benani died from COVID-19 in Annaba on 21 September 2020, aged 77, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria.[8]

References
  1. "Hamdi Benani est mort". Reporters Algerie (in French). 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  2. "Hamdi Benani – maloufe musique". Dzmusique (in French). Archived from the original on 24 May 2007.
  3. "Hamdi Bennani, un des meilleurs ambassadeurs de la chanson Malouf s'en va". Algérie Presse Service (in French). 21 September 2020.
  4. "Mohamed El Kourd grand maître du Malouf : Le "Kurde" de Bône". DjaZairess (in French). 21 August 2010.
  5. "Décès du virtuose de la musique Malouf Hamdi Benani". Algérie1.com (in French). 21 September 2020.
  6. "Portrait de Hamdi Benani. L'ange blanc". Algerie Focus (in French). 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  7. "Le malouf cuisiné au rock de Speed Caravan". Le Monde. 24 June 2021..
  8. "Algerian music icon Hamdi Benani dies from coronavirus". Ahram Online. 21 September 2020.


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