Ahmed Saber, whose real name was Bennacer Baghdadi, was born in Oran on July 2, 1937. He made his theatrical debut at an early age, between 1953 and 1955, appearing in notable plays alongside the likes of Keltoum. In the late 1950s, he turned to song, collaborating with masters of the genre such as Mohamed Benzerga and above all Abdelkader El Khaldi, who provided him with lyrics that became popular hits. In 1964, his meeting with the rebel poet Cheikh Omar El Mokrani marked a turning point: with El Ouaktia, El Khedma and El Khayenne, he established himself as a committed singer, to the point of being briefly imprisoned. Released on the orders of President Benbella, he pursued a career marked by critical songs, both tender and virulent, performed at weddings and galas. A pioneering figure of El Asri and precursor of modern Raï, he died in Oran on July 19, 1969, aged just 32.
