Underground raï love

The Midis de la Poésie joins the Boghossian Foundation for an evening dedicated to poetry from the Arab world. We celebrate the end of summer by the Villa Empain’s pool with music by Algerian singer Mohamed Lamouri accompanied by guitarist Mocke.

Mohamed Lamouri, otherwise known as the Chanteur de Paris (the Paris Singer), was first recognised in the early 2000s for his performances in the Parisian metro where he sings covers adapted in Arabic, as well as songs by Cheb Hasni, the king of sentimental raï. His repertoire ranges from his own compositions mixing raï, reggae and Western pop music, to covers of idol Cheb Hasni’s songs and American and French hits reinterpreted in Arabic. He is accompanied by Mocke, a member of the band Mostla which was formed to accompany Lamouri during his performances.

Mocke is a guitarist and a staple of the French music scene. A former founding member of the band Holden, he now composes and writes pieces as a solo artist or as a part of the duo Midget! alongside musician Claire Vailler. He develops his musical creations around his guitar, either as experimentations, contemporary music or improv, as solo albums or compositions for France Inter or for film scores. His latest album, Parle Grand Canard, was released in 2020.

The concert will be accompanied by a poetry reading by performer Stéphanie Van Vyve. A former French professor and graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in Dramatic Arts, Stéphanie Van Vyve is an actress, director, dancer and storyteller (at the Marathon des mots, the Midis de la Poésie and Universités populaires du théâtre). She also teaches declamation at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and was awarded the Best Comedian prize at the Prix de la Critique in 2015.