Cheb Mami: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:42, 26 December 2025

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Mohamed Khelifati (Template:Langx; born 11 July 1966), better known by his stage name Cheb Mami (Template:Langx), is an Algerian musician and singer-songwriter. He sings and speaks in Algerian Arabic and sometimes in Eastern Arabic dialects or in French. Internationally, he is known for contributing vocals to the 1999 Sting single "Desert Rose".

Early life

Cheb Mami was born in Graba-el-Wed, a populous quarter of Saïda, a city located 170 km south of Oran, on the high mesas of northwestern Algeria.^[1]

Career

Early years and music styles adopted

Cheb Mami came to prominence in 1982, when, aged 16, he finished as runner-up in the televised Algerian talent show Alhane wa chabab (melodies and youth).^[2] He followed this by launching a career as a raï singer, performing at weddings and releasing cassettes after he drew the attention of music producers.^[2] In 1985, he moved to Paris, France, where he performed at raï festivals and met Michel Levy, who became his manager.^[3]

In 1987, he received his call-up for military service in Algeria just as he had potential concerts lined up, including a trip to Japan. He chose to serve rather than stay abroad and be unable to see his family. During his two years of service, he worked as an entertainer on army bases.^[4]

In May 1989, he returned to Paris and subsequently toured the United States, Germany, England, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain.^[3]

Cheb Mami's music is a blend of Mediterranean and Western influences, including flamenco, Greek and Turkish music, as well as Latin music, and his voice is tinged with Andalusian accents.^[5]

International recognition

When Sting's album Brand New Day was released in 1999, the pair's duet, "Desert Rose", appeared on singles charts around the world and led to television appearances on Saturday Night Live, the Today Show, Jay Leno, David Letterman, the Grammy Awards telecast, and even a live performance at the Super Bowl.^[6]

Controversy

Arrest, imprisonment, and release

Cheb Mami was under an international arrest warrant after being indicted in October 2006 for "voluntary violence, sequestration, and threats" against an ex-wife, and failing to answer a court summons on 14 May 2007. He was accused of attempting to force an abortion on his then-girlfriend, magazine photographer Isabelle Simon.^[7] During a trip to Algeria in the summer of 2005, Simon was locked in a house belonging to one of Cheb Mami's friends, where an abortive procedure was attempted on her. Afterwards in France, she realized the fetus was still alive, and she later gave birth to a daughter. Cheb Mami had accused his manager Michel Levy of organizing the abortion plan; Levy was later sentenced to four years for plotting and organizing the assault.^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11] Cheb Mami was arrested in France several days before his trial and taken into custody by officials at a Paris airport as he arrived in the country from Algeria on 22 June 2009.^[12]

In July 2009, a Paris court found him guilty of drugging and attempted forcible abortion, and sentenced him to five years in prison.^[13]

On 21 September 2010, his lawyers applied for conditional release, a request that was turned down on 12 October 2010.^[14] Upon a second appeal however, the French court agreed for his conditional release on 23 March 2011.^[15]

Plagiarism

In July 2015, Cheb Mami and his production company EMI were ordered to pay a 200,000 euro fine to Algerian songwriter Rabah Zerradine, who performs under the name Cheb Rabah, for plagiarizing at least in part lyrics from several of his songs. The court ruled that Zerradine should be recognized as the sole author of four songs ("Le raï c'est chic", "Ma vie deux fois", "Mandanite", "Gualbi Gualbi") and as the original co-author of "Desert Rose", which achieved worldwide success in the early 2000s.^[16]^[17]

Selected discography

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Manetzouatchi (1985)
Douni l'bladi (1986)
Ouach Etsalini (1986)
Le Prince du Raï (1989)
Let Me Raï (1990)
Lazrag Saâni (1991)
Nahmek toujours ya taleb (1996)
Meli Meli (1998)
Dimari with Cheba Zahouania (2000)
Dellali (2001)
Du Sud au Nord (2003)
Live au Grand Rex (2004)
Layali (2006)

References

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↑ Rosenberg, Dan. (2001). "Cheb Mami". Afropop Worldwide. Accessed 19 March 2008 from Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
↑ Afrik with El Watany: L'avocat de Michel Lévy répond à Cheb Mami (in French)
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↑ "Cheb Mami retourne devant le tribunal"Template:Category handler^{[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped}]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., Peoplestar.tv, Retrieved 16 October 2008.
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↑ Le Parisien: Cheb Mami, la star du raï, reste en prison (in French)
↑ Le Figaro: Cheb Mami est en liberté conditionnelle (in French)
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Template:Raï musicians

Template:Authority control

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[6] Rosenberg, Dan. (2001). "Cheb Mami". Afropop Worldwide. Accessed 19 March 2008 from Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

[7] Afrik with El Watany: L'avocat de Michel Lévy répond à Cheb Mami (in French)

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[11] "Cheb Mami retourne devant le tribunal"Template:Category handler^{[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped}]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., Peoplestar.tv, Retrieved 16 October 2008.

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[14] Le Parisien: Cheb Mami, la star du raï, reste en prison (in French)

[15] Le Figaro: Cheb Mami est en liberté conditionnelle (in French)

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|Algerian musician (born 1966)}}
+{{short description|Algerian singer (born 1966)}}
-{{Multiple issues|
+{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
-{{BLP sources|date=January 2023}}
-{{Expand French|topic=bio|date=June 2023}}
-}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
 {{Infobox musical artist
 | background   = person
@@ Line 19: / Line 15: @@
 | genre        = [[Raï]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/dellali-mw0000005920 |first= Jon |last= Azpiri |title= Cheb Mami – Dellali |website= [[AllMusic]]|accessdate= 16 October 2014}}</ref>
 | years_active = 1982–present
-| occupation   = {{hlist|Musician|singer-songwriter}}
+| occupation   = Singer-songwriter
 | label        = {{hlist|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]|[[A&M Records|A&M]]|[[Because Music]]|[[Rotana Records|Rotana]]}}
 }}
@@ Line 29: / Line 25: @@
 ==Career==
-{{BLP sources|section|date=July 2024}}
 ===Early years and music styles adopted===
-Cheb Mami came to prominence in 1982, when, aged 16, he finished as runner-up in the televised Algerian talent show ''Alhane wa chabab'' (melodies and youth).<ref name="Laurent">{{cite book|author=Laurent Martino|title=Dictionnaire des étrangers qui ont fait la France |year=2013|publisher=Groupe Robert Laffont |isbn=978-2-221-14016-1|pages=428–429}}</ref> He followed this by launching a career as a [[raï]] singer, performing at weddings and releasing cassettes after he drew the attention of music producers.<ref name="Laurent" /> In 1985, he moved to [[Paris]], France. He later performed military service for two years in Algeria while working as an entertainer on army bases. In May 1989, he returned to Paris and subsequently toured the United States, Germany, England, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain.
+Cheb Mami came to prominence in 1982, when, aged 16, he finished as runner-up in the televised Algerian talent show ''Alhane wa chabab'' (melodies and youth).<ref name="Laurent">{{cite book|author=Laurent Martino|title=Dictionnaire des étrangers qui ont fait la France |year=2013|publisher=Groupe Robert Laffont |isbn=978-2-221-14016-1|pages=428–429}}</ref> He followed this by launching a career as a [[raï]] singer, performing at weddings and releasing cassettes after he drew the attention of music producers.<ref name="Laurent" /> In 1985, he moved to [[Paris]], France, where he performed at raï festivals and met Michel Levy, who became his manager.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=21 May 2020 |title=Cheb Mami |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/musique/20200521-cheb-mami |access-date=26 August 2025 |website=RFI |language=fr}}</ref>
+In 1987, he received his call-up for military service in Algeria just as he had potential concerts lined up, including a trip to Japan. He chose to serve rather than stay abroad and be unable to see his family. During his two years of service, he worked as an entertainer on army bases.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bensignor |first=François |date=1995 |title=Cheb Mami |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/homig_1142-852x_1995_num_1186_1_2453 |journal=Hommes & Migrations |volume=1186 |issue=1 |pages=62–63 |doi=10.3406/homig.1995.2453}}</ref>
+In May 1989, he returned to Paris and subsequently toured the United States, Germany, England, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain.<ref name=":0" />
-Cheb Mami's music is a blend of Mediterranean and Western influences, including [[Flamenco]], Greek and  Turkish music, as well as [[Latin music]], and his voice is tinged with [[Andalusia]]n accents.
+Cheb Mami's music is a blend of Mediterranean and Western influences, including [[flamenco]], Greek and  Turkish music, as well as [[Latin music]], and his voice is tinged with [[Andalusia]]n accents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Romero |first=Angel |date=9 June 2016 |title=Artist Profiles: Cheb Mami {{!}} World Music Central |url=https://worldmusiccentral.org/2016/06/09/artist-profiles-cheb-mami/ |access-date=26 August 2025}}</ref>
 ===International recognition===
 When [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]'s album ''[[Brand New Day (Sting album)|Brand New Day]]'' was released in 1999, the pair's duet, "[[Desert Rose (Sting song)|Desert Rose]]", appeared on singles charts around the world and led to television appearances on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', the ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today Show]]'', ''[[The Tonight Show|Jay Leno]]'', ''[[Late Show with David Letterman|David Letterman]]'', the [[Grammy Awards]] telecast, and even a live performance at the [[Super Bowl]].<ref>Rosenberg, Dan. (2001). "Cheb Mami". Afropop Worldwide. Accessed 19 March 2008 from {{cite web |url=http://www.afropop.org/explore/album_review/ID/1032/Dellali |title=Dellali |accessdate=20 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327034256/http://afropop.org/explore/album_review/ID/1032/Dellali |archivedate=27 March 2008}}</ref>
-==Arrest, imprisonment, and release==
+==Controversy==
-Cheb Mami was under an international arrest warrant after being indicted in October 2006 for "voluntary violence, sequestration, and threats" against an ex-wife, and failing to answer a court summons on 14 May 2007. He was accused of attempting to [[Forced abortion|force an abortion on his then-girlfriend]], magazine photographer Isabelle Simon.<ref>[http://www.afrik.com/article11960.html ''Afrik'' with ''El Watany'': L’avocat de Michel Lévy répond à Cheb Mami] (in French)</ref> During a trip to Algeria in the summer of 2005, Simon was locked in a house belonging to one of Cheb Mami's friends, where an abortive procedure was attempted on her. Afterwards in France, she realized the fetus was still alive, and she later gave birth to a daughter. Cheb Mami had accused his manager Michel Lecorre (a.k.a. Michel Levy) of organizing the abortion plan; Levy was later sentenced to four years for plotting and organizing the assault.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/5734107/Cheb-Mami-sentenced-to-five-years-in-forced-abortion-case.html|title=Cheb Mami sentenced to five years in forced abortion case|date=3 July 2009|website=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/arrest%20warrant%20issued%20for%20algerian%20singer_1031565|title=Arrest Warrant Issued For Algerian Singer |website=Contactmusic.com|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/18052007/323/french-issue-international-warrant-algerian-singer-cheb-mami.html&e=l_news_dm|title="French issue international warrant for Algerian singer Cheb Mami"|website=Uk.news.launch.yahoo.com|accessdate=29 May 2007|archive-date=27 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527045600/http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=%2F18052007%2F323%2Ffrench-issue-international-warrant-algerian-singer-cheb-mami.html&e=l_news_dm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131126235717/http://www.peoplestar.tv/index.html?news=851 "Cheb Mami retourne devant le tribunal"]}}, ''Peoplestar.tv'', Retrieved 16 October 2008.</ref> Cheb Mami was arrested in France several days before his trial and taken into custody by officials at a Paris airport as he arrived in the country from Algeria on 22 June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8125937.stm|title=Rai star 'forced French abortion'|date=30 June 2009|website=News.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
+===Arrest, imprisonment, and release===
+Cheb Mami was under an international arrest warrant after being indicted in October 2006 for "voluntary violence, sequestration, and threats" against an ex-wife, and failing to answer a court summons on 14 May 2007. He was accused of attempting to [[Forced abortion|force an abortion on his then-girlfriend]], magazine photographer Isabelle Simon.<ref>[http://www.afrik.com/article11960.html ''Afrik'' with ''El Watany'': L'avocat de Michel Lévy répond à Cheb Mami] (in French)</ref> During a trip to Algeria in the summer of 2005, Simon was locked in a house belonging to one of Cheb Mami's friends, where an abortive procedure was attempted on her. Afterwards in France, she realized the fetus was still alive, and she later gave birth to a daughter. Cheb Mami had accused his manager Michel Levy of organizing the abortion plan; Levy was later sentenced to four years for plotting and organizing the assault.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/5734107/Cheb-Mami-sentenced-to-five-years-in-forced-abortion-case.html|title=Cheb Mami sentenced to five years in forced abortion case|date=3 July 2009|website=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/arrest%20warrant%20issued%20for%20algerian%20singer_1031565|title=Arrest Warrant Issued For Algerian Singer |website=Contactmusic.com|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/18052007/323/french-issue-international-warrant-algerian-singer-cheb-mami.html&e=l_news_dm|title="French issue international warrant for Algerian singer Cheb Mami"|website=Uk.news.launch.yahoo.com|accessdate=29 May 2007|archive-date=27 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527045600/http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=%2F18052007%2F323%2Ffrench-issue-international-warrant-algerian-singer-cheb-mami.html&e=l_news_dm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131126235717/http://www.peoplestar.tv/index.html?news=851 "Cheb Mami retourne devant le tribunal"]}}, ''Peoplestar.tv'', Retrieved 16 October 2008.</ref> Cheb Mami was arrested in France several days before his trial and taken into custody by officials at a Paris airport as he arrived in the country from Algeria on 22 June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8125937.stm|title=Rai star 'forced French abortion'|date=30 June 2009|website=News.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
 In July 2009, a Paris court found him guilty of drugging and attempted forcible abortion, and sentenced him to five years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8130873.stm|title=Rai star jailed for abortion bid|date=3 July 2009|website=News.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 On 21 September 2010, his lawyers applied for conditional release, a request that was turned down on 12 October 2010.<ref>[https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/cheb-mami-la-star-du-rai-reste-en-prison-12-10-2010-1106505.php ''Le Parisien'': Cheb Mami, la star du raï, reste en prison] (in French)</ref> Upon a second appeal however, the French court agreed for his conditional release on 23 March 2011.<ref>[https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2011/03/23/97001-20110323FILWWW00643-cheb-mami-est-en-liberte-conditionnelle.php ''Le Figaro'': Cheb Mami est en liberté conditionnelle] (in French)</ref>
-==Plagiarism==
+===Plagiarism===
-In July 2015, Cheb Mami had to pay 200,000 euros to Cheb Rabah (born Rabah Zerradine) for plagiarizing his texts. The songs in question are "Le raï c'est chic", "Madanite", "Ma vie deux fois", and "Gualbi Gualbi".<ref>{{cite web|title=La star du raï Cheb Mami et EMI condamnés pour plagiat|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/culture/1650771-20150713-star-rai-cheb-mami-emi-condamnes-plagiat|website=20minutes.fr|date=13 July 2015 |accessdate=5 October 2015}}</ref>
+In July 2015, Cheb Mami and his production company EMI were ordered to pay a 200,000 euro fine to Algerian songwriter Rabah Zerradine, who performs under the name Cheb Rabah, for plagiarizing at least in part lyrics from several of his songs. The court ruled that Zerradine should be recognized as the sole author of four songs ("Le raï c'est chic", "Ma vie deux fois", "Mandanite", "Gualbi Gualbi") and as the original co-author of "Desert Rose", which achieved worldwide success in the early 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 July 2015 |title=La star du raï Cheb Mami et EMI condamnés pour plagiat |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/culture/1650771-20150713-star-rai-cheb-mami-emi-condamnes-plagiat |accessdate=5 October 2015 |website=20minutes.fr |language=fr |trans-title=Raï star Cheb Mami and EMI convicted of plagiarism}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2015 |title=Rai star Cheb Mami fined 200,000 euros for plagiarism |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20150713-rai-star-cheb-mami-fined-200000-euros-plagiarism |access-date=27 August 2025 |website=RFI}}</ref>
 ==Selected discography==
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 [[Category:Algerian male film actors]]
 [[Category:Algerian male television actors]]
-[[Category:Arabic-language singers of Algeria]]
+[[Category:Arabic-language Algerian singers]]
-[[Category:French-language singers of Algeria]]
+[[Category:French-language Algerian singers]]

Cheb Mami: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:42, 26 December 2025

Contents

Early life

Career

Early years and music styles adopted

International recognition

Controversy

Arrest, imprisonment, and release

Plagiarism

Selected discography

References

Navigation menu

Cheb Mami: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:42, 26 December 2025

Early life

Career

Early years and music styles adopted

International recognition

Controversy

Arrest, imprisonment, and release

Plagiarism

Selected discography

References

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