Biography

Laarbi Batma was deeply influenced by the musical style of the Moussems (festivals) in his native region of Abda Oulad El Masnaoui, which he attended as a child. Loving words and rhythms, he was never without a pencil as he believed that writing was a way of life and an art in itself.

Thus, he was always ready to jot down his thoughts, any event, and his inspirations for a poem or a song. Among his masterpieces is the 17,000 verses of his poetic project Alhoumam Alhoussam.

With a strong personality, Laarbi made a significant mark in the Moroccan and Arab artistic scene.

His famous song "Essiniya" is indicative of his curiosity and visionary spirit. It tells the story of Ba Salem, a beggar who arrives in Casablanca singing the first verses of "Essiniya": "Waldia Whbabi Ma Skhaw Bia, Bahr Elghiwane Ma Dkhaltou Belâani." Laarbi, who heard the first verses as the beggar passed by his street, invited him into his home and they had a long conversation. This is how this famous song was composed.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1993, which he discussed in the second part of his autobiography "Elalem" (The Suffering). He was also an actor and writer. "What struck me about this man was his consistency; he was exactly the same with his neighbors in Hay Mohammadi as he was at Club Med in Agadir, among tourists, or at the Cannes Film Festival where we went together to present our film Transes El Hal," said director Ahmed El Maânouni.
- IMDb mini biography by: Aonymous