Maâzouz Bouadjadj

Maâzouz Bouadjadj was born in the historic working-class neighborhood of Tigditt in Mostaganem. Mentored by master Cheikh Abdelkader Djelloul, he developed a unique regional Chaabi style that blended the classical Andalusian Hawzi tradition of Tlemcen with the energetic rhythms of Dahra Bedouin poetry.

Armed with a virtuosic touch on the mandole and an exceptionally expressive, ornamented vocal delivery, Bouadjadj recorded dozens of classical qasidas such as 'Youm El Djemâa'. He trained an entire generation of western Algerian artists, cementing Mostaganem's status as the western capital of Algerian Chaabi.