Khaled

Khaled is recognized as the most successful proponent of Rai – a form of folk music founded in his native Algeria.

The "King of Raï" mixes traditional Algerian music with Western styles such as soul, rock and reggae, to achieve his distinctive sound.

His 1992 single Didi sold over a million copies worldwide while his first French-language single, Aicha, sold 700 000 copies in France alone.

Khaled was appointed an FAO Ambassador in 2003. His contributions include performing at an awareness-raising gala in Rome and at an Earth Day concert in Milan, Italy.

“Because the suffering of any human being diminishes all of us, it’s our responsibility to try to ease that suffering,” he said. “It is not a matter of titles, but of responsibilities.”