Djamel Sabri

Djamel "Joe/Djo" Sabri (in Tifinagh: ⵊⴰⵎⴰⵍ ⵚⴰⴱⵕⵉ), born July 7 1958 in Oum El Bouaghi (Algeria), is an Algerian Chawi singer. When he was about 11, he started to show interest regarding his "Chawi" ethnicity and native culture (an Amazigh/Berber ethnic group in Algeria inhabiting the Aurès region) leading him, to found the music band Les Berbères. For a long time he was required by the former Algerian Unique Party to sing in the Algerian arabic dialect but he has never given in to the political pressures and threats he underwent; he always claimed his native (Berber) language and identity in his songs instead. He's often credited as the pioneer of Chawi Rock music and his musical influences expand to Folk, Pop & Blues.