Raļ is a form of folk music, originated in Oran, Algeria from Bedouin shepherdss, mixed with Spanish, French, African-American and Arabic musical forms.
In recent decades, a form of pop-oriented raļ has become popular throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. At first, the tone of the music was peaceful, but before Algerian independence in 1962, people used it to protest to the French government. After independence came, Algeria tried to ban raļ.
Nowadays, raļ is used, especially by women, to protest against Islamic fundamentalistss. The fundamentalists feel that the music is too Western in style.
