Abdelkader Bendamèche

Abdelkader Bendamèche (Arabic: عبد القادر بن دعماش), born on September 26, 1949, in Mazagran (a suburb of Mostaganem), Algeria, is an Algerian singer, researcher, musicologist, writer, and senior civil servant. He is recognized as one of the most eminent specialists and guardians of Algerian musical heritage, particularly regarding Chaâbi music and Malhoun poetry.

Abdelkader Bendamèche developed an interest in music at a very young age. In 1966, he made his public debut during a radio program hosted by Blaoui El Houari (Oran Radio and Television). With the help of friends from Mostaganem, he formed a music group, which gave him the opportunity to perform on the radio again in 1968. That same year, he helped found the Nadi El Hilal Et Thaqafi musical association; El Hadj Bouzid Benslimane contributed to his training in Andalusian music. In 1969, he participated in the first National Festival of Popular Songs in Algiers. He then launched a musical career, and in 1973, he recorded his first album in the *Djed* genre. An admirer of Hadj El Mahfoud, his repertoire includes religious and traditional songs drawn from the poetry of Benkhelouf, Ben M’saib, Bensahla, Bendhebah, Lazoughli, and Bentobdji. He subsequently recorded two LPs and one 45 rpm single. His discography comprises over fifty tracks in the popular (Chaâbi) genre, featuring him as either a performer or a singer-songwriter.