His family, Ait Ouarab, were originally from Taguersift near to Freha in Greater Kabylia;[1][2] his father was Mohamed Ben Hadj Saîd, and his mother was Fatma Bent Boudjemaâ.

The orchestra included Si Saîd Larbi (real name Birou), Omar Bébéo (Slimane Allane) and Mustapha Oulid El Meddah among others.

In 1927 he began taking part in the courses taught by sheik Sid AH Oulid Lakehal, which he followed assiduously until 1932.

In 1928 he was first exposed to the general public, by recording 27 discs (78 rpm) for Columbia, his first publisher, and taking part in the inauguration of Radio PTT Algiers.

On August 5, 1931, popular sheik Abderrahmane Saîdi died, and El Anka helped to fill the void.

Upon return from Mecca (in memory of which he composed the song "El Houdja") in 1937, he reformed his orchestra, and toured Algeria and France.