Algerian Radio
On Tuesday night, the band "Tikoubaouine" performed an evening concert at the Mahieddine Bachtarzi Algerian National Theatre in Algiers. During the event, they presented a curated selection of songs from their new album titled Ouchim (The Gazelle Fawn), alongside their most famous tracks in the "Desert Blues" style—a musical genre that blends traditional Targui rhythms with modern Western music.
The audience engaged enthusiastically with the songs and rhythms for over two hours. Tikoubaouine, a band hailing from southern Algeria, performed a rich collection of their greatest hits, including "Ana Sahraoui", "Tenere", "Simghar Imidiwan", "Aytma", "Inzjamdish", "Hobbek Riwaya", and "Ligh Zman", among others, drawing a tremendous response from the attendees.
The packed hall also delighted in tracks from Tikoubaouine’s upcoming album, Ouchim, which will soon be released and distributed in Algeria. Featured new songs included "Asmar Ya Ghali", "Taliat", "Denia Wisal Wa Infisal", and "Mastouchal".
Composed of five members, the band was founded in 2013 and sings in Tamasheq. They are distinguished by their musical style known as "Desert Blues" or "Assouf," seamlessly incorporating modern instruments like the electric guitar and bass alongside the traditional djembe drum.
Tikoubaouine’s songs revolve around themes deeply rooted in Targui traditions. Their discography includes the albums Dirhan (Wishes, 2016) and Ahnay (A Look to the Future, 2020).
On this occasion, Tikoubaouine’s frontman, singer and musician Said Benkhira, noted in a statement to APS that "several tracks from the new 11-song album, Ouchim, which will soon be released and distributed in Algeria, were performed exclusively for the audience tonight." He expressed his "joy at performing on the Mahieddine Bachtarzi stage and at the audience's profound engagement with the band's performance."
He also emphasized that "the Algerian public has a great appreciation for this musical genre, which combines authentic Algerian musical heritage and its African spirit with an openness to modern Western styles such as reggae, rock, and folk, among others."
