ALGERIA: Young Algerian singer Hadjer Harounhas become a 'source of pride' for women.

Record ID: 574162

  • Title: ALGERIA: Young Algerian singer Hadjer Harounhas become a 'source of pride' for women.
  • Date: 10th July 2012
  • Summary: CONSTANTINE, ALGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) PEOPLE ARRIVING AT PALACE OF CULTURE WHERE HAROUN'S CONCERT IS HELD PEOPLE HAVING THEIR TICKETS CHECKED (SOUNDBITE) (French) AMINA, FAN OF HADJER HAROUN SAYING: "I came especially for Hadjer, first of all to support her, and also to listen to her voice and her songs because she has got a very nice voice, that's it, yes and of course she is a source of pride for us the Constantinian women and all the Algerian women too." HADJER HAROUN IN THE DRESSING ROOM WITH HER FRIEND HAROUN PREPARING HERSELF BEFORE GOING ON STAGE HAROUN WALKING TO STAGE HOLDING HER GUITAR AUDIENCE CLAPPING HAROUN GREETING AUDIENCE BEFORE STARTING SINGING
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Reuters ID: LVA9YH4KJPM4UHKERKYCI41KI3VL
  • Story Text: Music lovers gathered in Constantine, in Algeria, which is also known as the "City of Bridges", to hear a performance by up-and-coming young singer and songwriter Hadjer Haroun.
    Aged just 17, Haroun, who is from Constantine, began building her musical profile at an early age, drawing inspiration from her love of pop, rock, blues and country music.
    Discovered on an Algerian TV talent show called 'Prodiges', she cites as influences some of the biggest names in rock and pop music, such as The Beatles, Norah Jones, Katie Melua and Florence and the Machine.
    Despite being new on the music scene, Haroun already has a growing group of loyal followers.

    "I came especially for Hadjer, first of all to support her, and also to listen to her voice and her songs because she has got a very nice voice, that's it, yes and of course she is a source of pride for us the Constantinian women and all the Algerian women too," said one fan Amina, who came to watch Haroun perform.
    Haroun's performance at Constantine's Palace of Culture was one of the closing events of the city's popular jazz festival entitled "Dimajazz".
    The young singer first performed with her uncle in France where she began recording her first album after starting out as a backing singer with a group, which also performed at this year's "Dimajazz" festival.

    "My family supports me a lot, and I have an uncle that composes music so he helps me a lot to do that, and we have an audience that likes what I do," Haroun said.
    The young artist has composed more than ten songs which are primarily inspired by daily events in her life.
    She said she has not yet encountered any real opposition to her music, which is heavily influenced by western musical genres.

    "It's true that we live in a conservative society but since I have many people who support me, I think that I haven't faced any difficulties yet, and I hope that I won't in future," she said.
    Dimajazz is one of the 150 official festivals subsidized by the Algerian Ministry of Culture and over time has become one of the leading cultural events in the country.
    Algeria's third city Constantine, 450km east of capital Algiers, is situated on a natural rock fortress at more than 600 metres of altitude. It is an enchanting place connected to the outside world by numerous high bridges. It is also the hometown of many famous Algerian singers.
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