[1] 20th century musicians from Tunisia include Anouar Brahem, an oud player, Jasser Haj Youssef, a composer and a violin player, and El Azifet, a rare all-female orchestra, as well as well-known vocalist Raoul Journo, singer and oud player Dhafer Youssef, singer, guitarist and lutenist Nabil Khemir, Lotfi Bouchnak, Khemais Tarnane, Saliha, Saleh Mehdi, Ali Riahi, Hedi Jouini, Fethia Khairi, Cheikh El Afrit, Oulaya and Naâma.
Popular singers include Nabiha Karaouli, Sonia Mbarek, Saber Rebaï, Soufia Sedik, Amina Fakhet, Nawal Ghachem, Latifa, Emel Mathlouthi and the late Thekra.
21st century alternative music groups include RedStar, JenJoon, Neshez, Zemeken, Aspirine, Kerkennah, Myrath, Ymyrgar and Checkpoint 303.
Nevertheless, malouf can not compete commercially with popular music, much of it Egyptian, and it has only survived because of the efforts of the Tunisian government and a number of private individuals.
The most important structural element of malouf, however, is the Andalusi nuba, a two-part suite in a single maqam (an Arab mode organized by quarter-tones), which lasts about an hour.
He became a court musician again and used influences from the local area, the Maghreb, and his native Middle East to form a distinctively Andalusian style.
Beginning in the 13th century, Muslims fleeing persecution by Christians in what is now Spain and Portugal settled in cities across North Africa, including Tunis, bringing with them their music.
This process peaked in the middle of the 18th century, when the Bey of Tunisia, Muhammad al-Rashid, a musician, used Turkish-style instrumental compositions in his work and firmly set the structure of the Nuba.
Rashidiyya Orchestra used a large chorus as well as contrabass, cello, violin, nay, qanun, and 'ud sharqi, and followed the developing rules of Arab musical theory and notation.
The then-director of the Rashidiyya Orchestra, Salah el-Mahdi, wrote the Tunisian national anthem, and eventually also became the leader of the music department of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Most popular mezwed singers are Heddi Habbouba, Habib el Khal, Samir Loussif, Hedi Donia, Faouzi Ben Gamra, Zina Gasriniya, Fatma Bousseha, Nour Chiba.
The most famous pop singers are Manel Amara, Sabri Mosbah, Ruka, Asma Othmani, Imen Mehrzi, Ghada Maatouk.
The most famous rap and hip hop singers are Balti, JenJoon, Samara, Tchiggy, Hedi L’artiste, Raf, Amriano, Badboy 7low, Joujma, L'arabe, Arslén, Ferr, A.L.A, Akram Mag, Kafon, GGA, Klay BBJ, K2 Rhym, Master Sina, Mohamed Amine Hamzaoui, Psyco-M, Bendir Man, Si Lemhaf, Artmasta.