From CERN physicist to Moroccan singer: Nacim Haddad takes the stage in Paris

This Wednesday, November 4, Nacim Haddad is due on stage at the Casino de Paris at 8 p.m. The Moroccan singer is presenting his “Ayta World Tour” there, after performing at several major venues in France. It is a remarkable journey for the former researcher, who worked on particle accelerators and detectors at CERN, near Geneva, before leaving it all behind for music.

Born in Rabat and originally from Bejaâd, Nacim Haddad followed a scientific path all the way to a doctorate in nuclear physics. In 2017, after several years devoted to research, he decided to return to Morocco to pursue his passion for popular singing. “I wanted to go further and not make it just a hobby, but embark on a professional career,” he explained in an interview with La Vie éco.

His decision had the support of his parents and his wife, who is also a doctor and researcher in nuclear physics. Music had been part of his life since his teens, when he sang in a group performing ghiwani, gnaoui and aïssaoui repertoires. Even while studying, he gave talks on aïta and Moroccan musical heritage.

His aunts’ songs become his repertoire

To create his own songs, Nacim Haddad returned to the traditions of Bejaâd, his family’s hometown. In particular, he asked his paternal aunts to help him rediscover songs once performed at celebrations and family gatherings. These memories inspire his compositions, which draw on Tadraze, a local musical repertoire, as well as his covers of old popular songs.

In 2018, he released his first album, “Rouba3yiates Ghinae El Chaabi.” He then continued his research into traditional music and made documentaries for Al Jazeera Documentary Channel and other Arab channels. He also hosts “Jmaâtna Zina,” a variety show on Al Aoula devoted in part to chaâbi heritage.

His new career has gradually taken him to international stages. In France, he performed at the Folies Bergère in October 2024, the Grand Rex in April 2025, and the Dôme de Paris in May 2026. His show pairs traditional aïta songs with contemporary arrangements and staging.

After the Casino de Paris this Wednesday, Nacim Haddad will continue his tour on Saturday, November 7, at the Cepac Silo in Marseille. The official “Ayta World Tour” schedule lists both performances for 8 p.m. On stage, he now introduces French audiences to some of the songs he once collected from the women in his family in Bejaâd.