Idir

Hamid Cheriet (; 25 October 1945 – 2 May 2020),

Initially training to be a geologist, his interest for music was piqued when he was called to sing on state radio as a late substitute. After finishing his compulsory military service, he moved to France in 1975 and embarked on his career in music. Idir took a hiatus during the 1980s before returning in 1993. He was a passionate advocate of the Kabyle and Berber cultures.

Early life and career Idir was born in Aït Lahcene, Aït Yenni, Tizi Ouzou Province (part of French Algeria at the time), on 25 October 1945. He originally studied to become a geologist and worked at an oil and gas field. In 1973, he was asked to be a late substitute for Nouara on Radio Algeria. who was murdered three years later. His 1999 album, Identités, featured him singing with Manu Chao, Dan Ar Braz, Maxime Le Forestier, Gnawa Diffusion, Zebda, Gilles Servat, Geoffrey Oryema, and the Berber National Orchestra. It was ultimately a widespread success. He had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and was hospitalized two days before his death.

Identity and activism

Idir participated in many concerts supporting different causes. For example, on 22 June 1995, more than 6,000 people attended a concert for peace, freedom, and tolerance performed by him and his friend, singer Khaled, initiators of the association "La France, la Vie" ("France and Life"). Idir also took part in the concert in memory of Lounès Matoub, the Kabyle singer who was assassinated in 1998. 1976 A Vava Inouva

1979 Ay arrac nneɣ (Ay Arrac Negh)

1980 Récital à l'Olympia

1986 Le petit village, Les Enfants De Tiddukla 1987 Mliyi avec Ali Tiddukla 1991 A Vava Inouva

1993 Les chasseurs de lumières

1999 Identités

2002 Deux rives, un rêve

2005 Entre scènes et terres (live album)

2007 La France des couleurs

2013 Idir

2017 Ici et ailleurs

Singles