Rabah Driassa — Painter, Composer, and Voice of the People
Rabah Driassa was born in Blida on 19 August 1934. A painter who won the Jules Ferry Prize in Paris, he became equally celebrated as a singer and composer of popular, Hawzi, and Sahraoui music. His son Abdou later became his performing partner.
15 November 2025
Rabah Driassa was born in Blida on 19 August 1934. He is one of the rare figures in Algerian cultural life to have achieved distinction in two entirely different art forms: visual art and music.
The Painter
Driassa began his creative life as a miniature painter, drawing inspiration from the legendary Algerian artist Mohamed Racim. His work earned him the prestigious Jules Ferry Prize at the Salon of Algerian and Orientalist Artists in both Paris and Metz — an early international recognition of his visual talents.
The Musician
In 1953, Driassa entered the music world, initially writing songs for established artists before stepping forward as a performer himself. Appearing on a popular radio programme, he quickly found an audience drawn to his blend of folk, Hawzi, and Sahraoui musical styles.
His genius lay in blending musical genres and crafting socially aware lyrics — songs that spoke to the lives, joys, and struggles of ordinary Algerians.
Signature Works
Between the 1960s and 1980s, he produced a repertoire of beloved folk songs, including:
- Yahya Wlad Bladi (Long Live the Sons of My Country)
- Hizia
- Nejma Katbia
- El Goumri
- El Aouama
A Family Tradition
In the 1990s, his son Abdou Driassa began performing new versions of his father's catalogue, and the two frequently performed together as a duo — a beautiful passing of the torch between generations.
Legacy
Rabah Driassa embodies the multidimensional cultural richness of Blida: painter, songwriter, singer, and keeper of Algeria's musical folk heritage.