View source for Hamdi Benani

{{Short description|Algerian singer and musician (1943–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Hamdi Benani
| image         =
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = Hamdi Benani
| birth_name    = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date    = 1 January 1943
| birth_place   = [[Annaba]], [[French Algeria]]
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|df=y|2020|09|21|1943|01|01}}
| death_place   = Annaba, Algeria
| other_names   =
| occupation    = Singer, musician
| years_active  =
| known_for     =
| notable_works =
}}
'''Hamdi Benani''' ({{langx|ar|حمدي بناني}}; 1 January 1943 – 21 September 2020) was an Algerian singer and musician.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reporters.dz/hamdi-benani-est-mort/|title=Hamdi Benani est mort|date=21 September 2020|work=Reporters Algerie|language=French|access-date=22 September 2020|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001164340/https://www.reporters.dz/hamdi-benani-est-mort/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dzmusique.com/Artiste-Hamdi-Benani.php|title=Hamdi Benani – maloufe musique|work=Dzmusique|language=French|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524091624/http://www.dzmusique.com/Artiste-Hamdi-Benani.php|archivedate=24 May 2007}}</ref>
== Biography ==
Benani was born in [[Annaba]] in 1943.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aps.dz/culture/109979-hamdi-bennani-un-des-meilleurs-ambassadeurs-de-la-chanson-malouf-sur-la-scene-internationale|title=Hamdi Bennani, un des meilleurs ambassadeurs de la chanson Malouf s'en va|date=21 September 2020|work=Algérie Presse Service|language=French}}</ref> His uncle, {{Interlanguage link|M'hamed El Kourd|lt=|fr|M'hamed El Kourd|WD=}}, encouraged him to start singing because of the quality of his voice and interpretive ability.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.djazairess.com/fr/horizons/13026|title=Mohamed El Kourd grand maître du Malouf : Le "Kurde" de Bône|date=21 August 2010|work=DjaZairess|language=French}}</ref> He won his first prize while singing at the age of 16.
He first gained notoriety in 1963 with the song ''Ya Bahi El Djamel'', which drove him to pursue a career in singing and violin. He brought new life to the [[Ma'luf|Malouf]] genre of music with the tracks ''Mahbounati'' and ''Adala Ya Adala'', which earned him great public success.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.algerie1.com/societe/deces-du-virtuose-de-la-musique-malouf-hamdi-benani|title=Décès du virtuose de la musique Malouf Hamdi Benani|date=21 September 2020|work=Algérie1.com|language=French}}</ref> This helped him be noticed by senior members of the Malouf singing community, such as Hassen El Annabi, [[Mohamed Tahar Fergani]], and Abdelmoumène Bentobal.
Benani was nicknamed "l'ange blanc" (The White Angel) because he was always seen in a white suit with his white violin. He helped modernize the Malouf genre by using ancestral themes alongside modern instruments and new themes in the texts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.algerie-focus.com/2009/06/portrait-de-hamdi-benani-l%E2%80%99ange-blanc/|title=Portrait de Hamdi Benani. L'ange blanc|date=25 June 2009|work=Algerie Focus|language=French|access-date=22 September 2020|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002030247/https://www.algerie-focus.com/2009/06/portrait-de-hamdi-benani-l%E2%80%99ange-blanc/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Benani's final work was a cooperation with [[Folktronica]] band [[Speed Caravan]] on recording their third album ''{{Lang|en|Nuba Nova}}' in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2021/06/24/le-malouf-cuisine-au-rock-de-speed-caravan_6085463_3246.html|title=Le malouf cuisiné au rock de Speed Caravan|date=2021-06-24|work=[[Le Monde]]}}.</ref>
== Death ==
Hamdi Benani died from [[COVID-19]] in Annaba on 21 September 2020, aged 77, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/5/33/383569/Arts--Culture/Music/Algerian-music-icon-Hamdi-Benani-dies-from-coronav.aspx|title=Algerian music icon Hamdi Benani dies from coronavirus|date=21 September 2020|work=Ahram Online}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Discogs artist|Hamdi Benani}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benani, Hamdi}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria]]
[[Category:People from Annaba]]
[[Category:20th-century Algerian male singers]]
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