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Doha – Mohammed Ben Abdeslam, a foundational figure in Moroccan music who composed over 250 works and shaped the nation’s musical identity for decades, died Thursday morning at his home in Sale. He was 94.
His family confirmed his death in Sale, where he had lived in relative seclusion since a car accident in 1992 forced his retirement from active musical composition.
Born as Mohammed Touachi in Sale in 1930, Ben Abdeslam began his musical journey at the Casablanca orphanage, where he learned to play the oud and violin before joining the ensemble founded by Ahmed Zniber.
His professional career began in 1952 with his self-composed debut song “Fi ad-Darb,” followed by “Ya al-Khatef Aqli,” featuring lyrics by Mohammed Hassan Al-Jundi. That same year, he joined Radio Maroc in Rabat, marking the beginning of his influential broadcasting career.
In 1953, Ben Abdeslam became one of the founders of the radio’s modern ensemble. He also established the “Union Slaoui” ensemble, which performed throughout Morocco and pioneered the integration of singers into musical operettas. Among his notable works in this genre were “Mashrou’ Bouregreg” and musical dialogues such as “At-Telephone” and “Anta Hani.”
Known as the “Master of Moroccan Zajal Song,” Ben Abdeslam composed for numerous prominent artists. His compositions include “Al-Bahara” for Naïma Samih, “Sawelt Alik Al Oud w’Nai” for Ismail Ahmed, and “Ad-Dhourouf” for Abdelhadi Belkhayat. He also composed for Arab artists beyond Morocco, including the Tunisian singer Oulaiya.
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Ben Abdeslam’s work extended beyond entertainment to include national and pan-Arab compositions. He composed “Al-Majd al-Arabi” (Arab Glory) celebrating the October 1973 war victory, recorded in Egypt with artists including Hani Shaker and Mohamed Rushdi. He also composed “Sawt Al-Ahrar,” featuring lyrics by nationalist leader Allal El Fassi.
Throughout his career, Ben Abdeslam led several significant musical initiatives. He conducted the variety ensemble for Moroccan radio and contributed to prominent radio programs including “Lil-Oudhon Dhakira” and “Samar.”
His career ended abruptly in 1992 following a car accident that left him unable to continue his musical work. Despite his withdrawal from public life, his compositions remained influential in Moroccan music, bridging traditional and modern styles.
Ben Abdeslam’s legacy includes discovering and nurturing numerous talents in Moroccan music, including Bahija Idrissi, Amina Idrissi, and Mohamed El Idrissi. His compositions for Abdelwahab Doukkali, including “Ya al-Ghadi fat-Tomobile” and “Moul al-Khal,” helped launch the singer’s career.
