Akli D

Ilka Schlockermann talks to Berber musician Akli D from Algeria who was one of the artists on the African Soul Rebels tour in February 2007.

Akli D was, together with Femi Kuti and Ba Cissoko , part of the third edition of the African Soul Rebels tour. The 12 dates tour took them all across the UK, between 14 and 27 February 2007.

Akli D was born in rural Algeria, in a small village in the Kabylie region east of Algiers. He is a Berber, the non-Arab people who, since prehistoric times, have inhabited the southern Mediterranean coastline from Egypt to the Atlantic. The Berbers dominated North Africa until the Arabs conquered it in the Seventh century. Akli D's second album 'Ma Yela' was released towards the end of 2006. The album was produced by legendary French-Spanish artist Manu Chao who has also produced Amadou & Mariam's 'Dimanche à Bamako' album. We caught up with Akli D to find out more:

What does the D in Akli D stand for?

It is just a letter that went with my lifestyle when I lived on the street. The 'D System' is what we say in France when you don't have any papers or work.

Manu Chao produced your album 'Ma Yela'. What was it like working with him?

First and foremost it is not about work with him. I would say that I have shared my music with him, taking our time, playing music together, chatting. It is a very beautiful experience.

Manu Chao met you in a café in Menilmontant in Paris. How exactly did this happen?

I met Manu for the first time in this café. It is a very simple café with a very rock'n'roll owner and it was the owner who introduced me to Manu. After a while I went to the end of the bar, picked up a guitar that was lying around, and started to play to myself, Manu joined me with the owner of the bar, he took up a second guitar and we played like that until 6 in the morning. Since then we did it again regularly.

Do you actually play the petrol-can guitar that you are holding on the cover image on the album?

No, I don't play that particular guitar but I keep it precious. I made it as a child in Algeria and it was my first instrument. I don't play it anymore but looking at it sometimes allows me to see music through the eyes of my childhood: simply and naively. For me it had a place on this record where I sometimes tell stories about myself.

Your songs are about issues such as aid to Chechen orphans and the fight for registration of illegal immigrants to the battle of Algerian women against the family code – have you made enemies being so outspoken?

When I tackle subjects that make me feel bad, like the suffering of Chechen children or the battle of Algerian woman, I don't ask myself whether that will put certain people out. I feel the need to talk about these people who I've seen, with whom I've spoken, and who fight so that the world will hear them. If that means I'll make enemies then I'm prepared for it.

What would you say is the main difference between Berber music and Arab music?

Berber music is above all African music, particularly among the Touareg people. Arab music in Algeria is a music with an African base but which has been influenced by the oriental scale.

You were born and raised in Algeria and then moved to Paris in 1980. Do you have any plans to return to Algeria? Have you been back to perform there?

Yes, I hope to go again, to find the dreams of my childhood, my village. If there was no political pressure I could go and play. I went there three years ago to perform and I have to say I was censured. I don't think that the Algeria of today will be calling out for singers like me.

Are you known in Algeria? Are your CDs released in Algeria?

Yes, I think I am known there, particularly in the Berber regions. My CD is distributed there, I guess as well as it can be.

What are your thoughts on the music scene like in Algeria?

The Algeria of today does not respect cultural people, and particularly not when you are Berber.

You have also lived in San Francisco and Ireland for a while – has this any influenced you?

Yes, but I wasn't just influenced musically but also humanely.

Which artists are you listening to? Who has influenced you? Which Algerian artists do you rate?

I listened to two maestros of Kabylie song: Slimane Azem and Cheikh El Hasnaoui. When I arrived in France, I discovered other styles of music like blues, reggae, rock and other African styles, thanks to encounters with other musicians I met playing on the street. That's how I discovered Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, the Beatles, Neil Young, JJ Cale, Pink Floyd. They have all influenced me, each one with their different colours.

In February you will be performing alongside Femi Kuti and Ba Cissoko on the African Soul Rebels tour in the UK. Would you call yourself an 'African Soul Rebel'?

I think that as an African, from childhood, we have this rebel soul concerning African suffering. I hope that the message for Africa across the UK will be positive

What are your future plans?

My project is to sing across the whole world and to find humanity and share all the good. It's that that gives me hope and energy.

Tracks from Akli D's album ' Ma Yela ' (Because Music/ 3113722):

Listen: Dda Mokrane

Listen: Good Morning Tchetchenia