Cheb Mami

As part of the celebrations for the "Year of Algeria" in France, Cheb Mami joined forces with the Kabylian singer Aït Menguellet for a special concert at Le Zénith in Paris on 1 November 2003. The "Year of Algeria" proved to be a fairly controversial event (Algerians in France seeing it as a sign the French government were supporting the Algerian authorities). But Cheb Mami and Aït Menguellet used their concert as a means of confirming their independence from all sides. Another occasion to celebrate Algerian solidarity came at the end of the "Year of Algeria" when Mami played a final concert at Bercy stadium on 29 December 2003 à Bercy, bringing the house down with other Algerian artistssuch as Raïna Raï, Abdelmadjid Meskoud, Baâziz and stand-up comedian Smaïn.

Cheb Mami has proved his commitment to human rights throughout his career. And in 2003 he got involved with the international campaign for children's rights, recording the fund-raising song "Lazraq Saani" with proceeds going to the humanitarian association "Un regard, un enfant." Mami also appeared alongside Saian Supa Crew and Sinsemilia on the compilation "Opinion sur rue" (released in November 2003).