Anouar Brahem was born in Halfaouine, Tunis in 1957. He began playing the oud at the age of 10 at the Tunis National Conservatory of Music where he studied with the oud master Ali Srithi, and later went on to receive a Diploma in Arab Music. By the age of 15, he was playing with local orchestras and continued his lessons with Srithi. Brahem soon began to write his own music and produced a cassette with percussionist Lassaad Hosni. In 1981, he left for Paris, where he spent four years, before returning to Tunis in 1985 to perform at the Carthage festival. In 1987, Brahem was appointed director of the Musical Ensemble of Tunis, where he remained until 1990. Since that time he has been producing a regular stream of albums with many varied influences, and touring widely throughout Europe, the USA and the Middle East. Anouar Brahem has an excellent website with more information about his CDs and forthcoming concerts.