One of the most significant trends in modern Algerian music comes from the region of Kabylia, the most important center for the country's substantial Berber minority. Singer, songwriter and guitarist Takfarinas comes out of the Kabyle tradition. And like the major rai artists, Takfarinas has been at it for a long time. He has attempted to renovate the Kabyle song, and garnered much popularity in France and North Africa. Conscious of the importance of brand names in the World Music market, he has even christened his music with the genre name Yal. This performance is Takfarinas’ first in California.