Cheb Bilal

Born on July 23, 1966 in Cherchell, Algeria, Bilal Moufok spent his childhood in Oran, where he attended the conservatory. Barely an adult, the young singer performed at numerous Oranese weddings and parties, and formed a group, El Ahouar, in the 1980s. While the group achieved local success, performing and winning prizes, Bilal Moufok adopted the pseudonym Cheb Bilal and left for Marseille in 1989. In France, he found an opportunity to renew his approach to music, and in 1997 released his first album, Babor Li Jebni. This first major release was a success, and many of the tracks became real hits in Algeria, such as "Ghorba" and "L'hem". He was invited to support Cheb Hasni, and his approach to raï, combining traditional music with new styles (including rap), won over audiences at home and in the diaspora in France. His album Sidi Sidi , released by Universal in 2002, helped develop his French-speaking audience. Following this rise to fame, and an established place in the Algerian music world, Cheb Bilal continued to compose, releasing several albums, including Hadi Ala (2005), Gouli Gouli (2006) and Loukane Nferaghe Cha Fi Gualbi (2008). Cheb Bilal's high productivity has contributed to his success, with many of his songs achieving millions of listens, such as "Chriki", "Khalini Saket" and "Motou".

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