Habib Reda
Habib Reda was an Algerian actor, musician, and composer. Known for his participation in early film productions before independence and later appeared in international cinema, with his participation in the political film Z directed by Costa-Gavras.
Biography
Mohamed Hattab, known professionally as Habib Réda, was born on March 28, 1919, in Miliana, Algeria.He appeared in several films shot from the 1940s onwards, notably Kenzi in 1948, and also took part in international productions such as Z.
In 1955, he joined the Algerian War of Independence. He became one of the officials of the Autonomous Zone of Algiers and participated in armed resistance activities, including bomb placements. Arrested in 1957, he was sentenced to death and imprisoned at the Sarrouy School, where he was subjected to torture.
He also worked as a film composer and performer, credited for the music in Kenzi . Reda remained active in North African cinema after World War II and occasionally collaborated on international productions through the 1960s and 1970s.
He died in 2013 at the age of 94 in Algiers and was buried at El Kettar Cemetery.
Filmography
Children of Destiny — actor credit.Kenzi — actor and composer credit.Z — actor credit in the international cast of Costa-Gavras’ film.The Legacy — listed in databases.Discography
- Composer credit for Kenzi .
- Early recordings from the 1940s are referenced in indexes of Maghrebi popular music and in online audio compilations such as Habib Réda playlists.