Folk Bands and Artists
Karim Chaya
Paris
http://karimelgafla.free.fr/index.php
Karim´s beginnings were in a working class neighbourhood of Algiers and in conditions that were far from easy and deprived of access to cultural and leisure activities. His daily reality led him to question corruption, the authoritarian regime, the fact that material wealth and resources were closely guarded by the privileged few. He felt the oppression of the masses in the hands of the oil-rich leaders. One night, in a chic neighbourhood of the city, he was turned away at the door of a concert venue. Up on a hill above the venue he nevertheless managed to see the concert: a complete turning point in his life. “I was totally captivated by the power of the music. It´s a peaceful weapon, a source of freedom and a festive opening on the world.“ Similarly his encounter with the Touareg people. “I remain fascinated by these borderless people who move about wherever their fancy takes them.“ Whence the name of his band “El Gafla“ meaning “Desert Caravan“, in their honour.
The wave of terrorism was at its height when Karim decided to up sticks and go to work in France. He was 21. But Marseille was far from the El Dorado of his dreams. Unemployed, he spent some time in Rome, where he met with racial violence. From there he went to Paris, where he survived thanks to odd jobs on the black market and became a part of the Bohemian neighbourhoods of the capital. Guitar in hand, he set off to play on café terraces and went to listen to bands in Paris´ characterful venues. In the very colourful quartier of Ménilmontant he rubbed shoulders with many artists and became buddies with Manu Chao. Together they did a remix of the classic “Clandestino“, in Arabic and Spanish.
In 2002 he formed El Gafla, made up of 7 musicians of diverse backgrounds. Their first album, “Paris/Casbah“, hailed by the critics, came out in 2006. They´ve played over 500 gigs in France and abroad, from Italy to Qatar and Ecuador. They took Algiers by storm when they played there in 2009.
Genre: World
