Renowned Moroccan Composer Mohamed Belkhayat Dies at 70

Born in 1951 in Rabat, the late Belkhayat taught for over 40 years at the National Conservatory of Music and Choreographic Art in the capital. He was a composer for the national radio and the royal symphony orchestra.

The deceased was a major figure in Moroccan song and greatly contributed to its modernization, drawing inspiration from the richness and diversity of this rich Moroccan heritage. During his lifetime, he collaborated with great names in Moroccan song such as Imad Abdelkbir, Fatima Makdadi, Naïma Samih, El Bachir Abdou and Amal Abdelkader.

The song "El Ghorba", performed by Mohamed El Ghaoui, remains one of his greatest successes.