Education
Having graduated from the University of Algiers with a degree in political science, Ferhat made his first steps into the world of music in 1973 by winning the Algiers Modern Festival"s first prize.
Having graduated from the University of Algiers with a degree in political science, Ferhat made his first steps into the world of music in 1973 by winning the Algiers Modern Festival"s first prize.
Since June 1, 2010, he is the President of the Provisional Government of Kabylia, a government the movement set up in exile in France. Laureate Gusi Peace Prize of the prestigious international organization since July 23, 2013. In 2012, Mehenni traveled to Israel and voiced his support for and solidarity with Israel, comparing it to Kabylie: "We are in a hostile environment.
Both countries share kind of the same path, but Israel already exists – that’s the only difference." lieutenant was soon after this success that he began his career as a protest singer and political activist.
He was notably hostile towards the Algerian government and Islamists. This led to him being arrested 13 times, imprisoned for three years, and tortured by government forces.
After the Black Spring massacre in Kabylie triggered by the Algerian gendarmes" killing of a young Kablye man, Masinissa Guermah in detention, he established the MAK, Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie, a political movement calling for self-government in Kabylia. Though others suspect it was a case of mistaken identity and that Ferhat was the real target.