Chakib Bouzidi is a world renowned multi-instrumentalist specializing in traditional instruments (Goumbri ,ngoni, balafon, djembe, kora, tama, and calebasse), and a student of gnawa virtuoso Maalam Bernaissa. Chakib leads the 7-piece West African outfit Ifrikya Spirit, which melds traditional sounds from sub-Saharan Africa with contemporary influences from across the globe. Chakib has performed widely across Algeria, and over the past seven years he has toured internationally throughout Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In 2016, he was invited to perform in the United States as part of the State Department’s Center Stage exchange program. A passionate ambassador of Algerian music, Chakib has dedicated himself to using traditional music to bridge cultural divides. He's played with various international artists including Richard Bona , Afel Bocum, Khadim Bay , and Cheikh Tiding Seck.