Amar’s interest in the working and living conditions of artists of the Algerian diaspora in France has expanded into research on the impact of colonial history on their practices and the reception of their work. During this ongoing research, Amar discovered the 19th-century Algerian singer Kadoudja, who has been written about in specialised journals but has left no trace of her own. Kadoudja performed in Parisian café concerts, an early form of the music industry. Although she was celebrated during her career, she disappeared into oblivion after her death. 

This presentation will focus on the traces Kadoudja left behind, her personal history, how orientalism might have shaped her life as an artist and how she was perceived by the public and the press. Amar will share his reflections on how Kadoudja was exoticised, but also on the absence of her own voice and possible ways to bring it back to life, while also addressing the fact that this will be another speculative interpretation.