Hamdi Benani
{{Short description|Algerian singer and musician (1943–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hamdi Benani
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Hamdi Benani
| birth_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.{{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}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dzmusique.com/Artiste-Hamdi-Benani.php|title=Hamdi Benani – maloufe musique|work=Dzmusique|language=French|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524091624/http://www.dzmusique.com/Artiste-Hamdi-Benani.php|archivedate=24 May 2007}}
Biography
Benani was born in Annaba in 1943.{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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 Malouf genre of music with the tracks Mahbounati and Adala Ya Adala, which earned him great public success.{{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}} 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.{{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}}
Benani's final work was a cooperation with Folktronica band Speed Caravan on recording their third album ''{{Lang|en|Nuba Nova}}' in 2020.{{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}}.
Death
Hamdi Benani died from COVID-19 in Annaba on 21 September 2020, aged 77, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria.{{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}}
References
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External links
- {{Discogs artist|Hamdi Benani}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Benani, Hamdi}}
Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria
Category:20th-century Algerian male singers
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