Algeria Faces New Backlash Over Plagiarism of Song by Iconic Moroccan Singer

Rabat – Algeria is once again facing an appropriation scandal after social media users denounced the Algerian regime for condoning and celebrating an Algerian singer’s plagiarizing an iconic song by Nouamane Lahlou, one of the most prominent artists in Morocco.

Algeria’s regime is using the song to promote the international Mediterranean Games, which both the Moroccan singer and his fans have described as a a shocking decision.

Algerian singer Mohamed Lamine changed the lyrics of the famous Moroccan song “Ya Chefchaouen Ya Nouara” to “Ya Dzair Ya Nouara” years ago, releasing it on YouTube without consulting with Lahlou, or taking into account copyrights laws.

Nouamane Lahlou said he was astonished to see his song’s lyrics changed and his rhythms for the song stolen without prior notice.

But he said his shock and dissatisfaction with Lamine’s infringement of his copyrights later waned after the Algerian singer reached out to him years ago to apologize.

“He told me that he did what he did out of love and respect he holds for me,” Lahlou said in a recent interview with a Moroccan television channel.

Lahlou said he had warned the Algerian artist that if the song was going to be released it should be done with its original title.

However, Algeria’s decision to adopt and use the song as promotional music for the Mediterranean Games to take place in Ouahrane in the coming days was of enormous surprise for the Moroccan singer and his fans worldwide.

In his interview with the Moroccan channel, Lahlou expressed his dismay to see his tribute song to the northern city of Chefchaouen be both plagiarized and appropriated.

The Moroccan singer first wrote and released the song in 2006, and he insisted in his interview that he had documented the ownership of the song in copyright offices in both Paris and Morocco.

“I did not do anything about it [the plagiarism] at first, because this came from a neighboring country, Algeria,” Lahlou said, emphasizing that he has in the past few days received many calls and messages denouncing Algeria’s scandalous appropriation of his song.

Amid the backlash, the singer has filed complaints with the copyright authorities in both Morocco and Paris, as well as with Morocco’s parliament, television, and the Moroccan Ministry of Culture.

“The Culture Minister promised to handle the case personally,” Lahlou said.

Despite venting his frustration at the appropriation of his song by the Algerian regime, the Moroccan artist spoke in loving, brotherly terms of the Algerian people, insisting that money is not the reason for his anger with the obvious copyright infringement.

“You are a whole country full of artists that can produce an exclusive song. And if you have asked, I could have worked on a song exclusively for you. But I think you are not in need. Algeria is full of well-known artists,” he said.

The Moroccan singer emphasized that while he personally has no time to sue Algeria, a lawyer association has reached out to him about the matter.

“This is our Moroccan heritage, but I cannot sue them, they are our neighbors. But it is such a shame to plagiarize my song, it is about Morocco’s Chefchaouen,” he said.

This is not the first time Algeria’s regime is linked to appropriation scandals.

In May, Moroccan artisan Mbarka Ait Ouhassi filed a lawsuit against the Directorate of Culture of Tlemcen, a city in northern Algeria, for illegally using her artistic photo to promote the city’s culture.

The picture sparked criticism over the cultural appropriation of Morocco’s traditional handcrafts that Algeria attributed to the city of Tlemcen.