They have been musicians from a young age and have always promoted Algerian traditions, but their real adventure on the Web was born three months ago.

Wassim Belarbi, 21, and Noussaïba Bettahare, 15, shared their first video

on Instagram

in January 

.

They took the stage name Jbaliqs, which represents "the Arabization of the Latin word Juba (Berber king)", explains Wassim, the initiator of the project.

We also find in each of their covers Berber sounds, "a part of the city music Chaabi", insists the young artist. 

See this post on Instagram

A post shared by جْـبَالِيقْسْ الجَـزَايْـرِي (@jbaliqs)

Humor to introduce young people to traditional music

Wassim, who studied sociolinguistics, and Noussaïba, a high school student, want to introduce young people to traditional Algerian music.

For them, the best way to go about it is to add a touch of humor to their videos, which has attracted the attention of Internet users.

"We also do theater and like to reconcile laughter and song at every opportunity, we are not there to amass views or shares, our goal is above all to convert the ear of our youth to its heritage", they confide . 

Popularize and export Algerian culture

After the enthusiasm generated by this project, Jbaliqs decided to get more involved: "At present, we are working on the export of Algerian culture to the world and on ways to popularize it for young Algerians, who do not 'did not have access, at school, to the musical teachings of this culture ", explains Wassim, who says to have" bathed in "Algerianism" "

France 24 was able to attend a rehearsal of the group, whose training varies, since in addition to the two young musicians, the Jbaliqs group can bring together up to 20 to 30 artists on stage.

That day, they were seven to rehearse "a program of poetry which looks at the question of spirituality", specifies Wassim.

"Even though you have heard dancing rhythms, all of the topics covered in our rehearsal session are secular poems with themes on Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad and the deity." 

Young Algerians to conquer traditional Algerian music.

© Jbaliqs

Jbaliqs' projects are multiple and his ambitions very large, while its members are already part of several other formations: the Cordoba orchestra of Algiers, the Foundation of Cheikh Abdelkrim Dali, the Maghrebian orchestra and that of the Nightingales for to name only these ... Young talents are inspired daily by humans, their prism and Algerian society. 

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to return to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR