Karim Tizouiar (Kabyle: Karim Tizuyar; 2 March 1963 – 28 May 2023), also known as Karim T or just Karim, was an Algerian singer-songwriter, composer and mandolinist.
Born in Sidi M'Hamed, Tizouiar grew up in Tala Tazert, a village in Béjaïa Province, where he received his early musical education.[1] At 20 he moved to Paris, where in 1982 he started his professional career entering the Kabyle ensemble Agraw as a mandolinist, then replacing Takfarinas as lead vocalist in 1985.[1][2][3] Following the success of the band's song Uliw yeduqqus he made his solo debut in 1987, with the album Ay Aguitar ("Oh Guitar").[1] Among his best known compositions are the title track "Ay Aguitar", "Achehal Insher I Yetran" and "Rju-yi".[3]
Suffering from a debilitating illness which led him to announce his premature retirement in 2011, Tizouiar died on 28 May 2023, at the age of 60.[1][3]