Rachid Taha on historical amnesia (1987)

Rachid Taha (Arabic: رشيد طه‎ Rashīd Ṭaha; 18 September 1958 - 12 September 2018) was an Algerian singer and activist based in France, described as "sonically adventurous." His music was influenced by many different styles such as rock, electronic, punk and raï. In this interview from 1987 he speaks about his belief that racism and xenophobia arise from the erasure of historical knowledge.
TRANSCRIPT: I don't care about the racist in the street. I don't find him so dangerous. I can defend myself. But I repeat again: It's the widespread racism, racism in the media, and the racism of certain political people. For me those are the most dangerous people. There's a lot of talk about racism etc. I have the impression we are falling into a trap, that we are being turned into people who can't see the forest for the trees. "Watch out. Racism." OK. We'd rather have a solution. That is, I chose the path of music. That's culture and so on. Also, I am stunned by the media. Yesterday, for example, I watched a TV program about flamenco. For two hours they talked about flamenco, and at no time did they talk about the Arab influence on flamenco or on Andalusia. I was dumbstruck. Television, media-- it's their role to teach young people because the only way young people will not know racism is if they also know history. And we sometimes have the impression that there are people who make history, and then there is a big eraser that comes down and erases it little by little, and assures that no one has any knowledge, no memory, that everything is erased. For us, that's where racism begins already. Spain, Andalusia... The presence of Arabs there for centuries who were for us, after all, part of the most interesting period because we like that aspect. There may have been wars and so on, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't learn the positive side, that there was a blending of religion between Jews, Christians and Muslims. That's the aspect that interests us. The only way to combat racism and xenophobia is to revive memory and say to people "Here it is. Here is what exists."

[@halimahalima2811]

Paix a ton ame cher rachid

[@sakinah7634]

1987…..on est en 2021 et rien n’ avait changé

[@helloiamnessa]

Rest in Peace, lovely soul

[@marie-andredesmurs5293]

Il était beau gosse 😘