Raï (/raɪ.i/, /raɪ/; Arabic: راي, rāʾy, [raʔi]), sometimes written rai, is a form of Algerian folk music that dates back to the 1920s. Singers of Raï are called cheb (شاب) or cheba (شابة), i.e. 'young', as opposed to sheikh (شيخ, 'shaykh'), i.e. 'old', the name given to Chaabi singers. The tradition arose in the city of Oran, primarily among the poor. Traditionally sung by men, by the end of the 20th century, female singers became common. The lyrics have concerned social issues such as disease and the policing of European colonies that affected native populations.
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Raï in the context of Bedouin music
Bedouin music (Arabic: الموسيقى البدوية) is the music of nomadic Bedouin Arab tribes in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, Mesopotamia and the Levant. It is closely linked to its text and poems. Songs are based on poetry and are sung either unaccompanied, or to the stringed instrument, the rebab. Traditional instruments are the rebab and various woodwinds. Examples of Bedouin music are the Samri of Saudi Arabia, Aita of Morocco, and the internationally recognised Rai of Algeria.
View the full Wikipedia page for Bedouin music