Baya Bouzar ( ar, باية بوزار, 13 September 1952), known by the stage name Biyouna () is an Algerian singer, dancer, actress born in Belcourt, now known as Belouizdad, Algiers, Algeria.

Early life

Having a very early passion for singing, she was a member of several groups: first in Fadhéla Dziria's group where she played

tambourine The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though ...

, another that she directed with her partner Flifla, and finally her own where she was the main vocalist and became sought after for wedding receptions. At the age of 17, she began performing in some of the biggest cabarets in the city and at 19 started dancing at the Copacabana.

Acting career

That same year, the director Mustapha Badie gave her a singing part in his first soap opera, ''La Grande Maison (1973)'', where she played Fatma. This show was adapted from a novel by Mohamed Dib. She became well-known thanks to this role. She appeared in two Algerian films: ''Leila and the others'', by Sid Ali Mazif in 1978, and ''The Neighbor'', by Ghaouti Bendedouche in 2000. She also performed some one-woman shows. In 1999, Nadir Moknèche offered her the role of Meriem in ''Madame Osmane's Harem'' which she produced in France. This film was followed by ''Viva Laldjéri'' in 2003. Between 2002 and 2005, Biyouna had success with a trilogy based on the theme of Ramadan called ' Nass Mlah City.'' She appeared in the last film of Nadir Moknèche, Délice Paloma, where she played the main character, a mafiosa named Madame Aldjeria. In 2006 she performed the role of Coryphée in Sophocles' Elektra beside

Jane Birkin Jane Mallory Birkin, OBE (born 14 December 1946) is an English-French singer and actress. She attained international fame and notability for her decade-long musical and romantic partnership with Serge Gainsbourg. She also had a prolific career ...

in an opera directed by Philippe Calvaio. In 2007 she had a small role in the Algerian film ''Rendez-vous avec le destin''. In 2009, she played

La Celestina ''The Tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea'' ( es, Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea), known in Spain as ''La Celestina'' is a work entirely in dialogue published in 1499. It is attributed to Fernando de Rojas, a descendant of converted Jews, ...

at the ''Vingtième Théâtre'' in Paris. For Ramadan, 2010, Biyouna was one of the stars in a sitcom broadcast on Nessma TV, ''Nsibti Laaziza''.

Musical career

Meanwhile, she was continuing her singing career and in 2001 issued the album ''Raid Zone'', produced with the composer John Bagnolett. After the success of this album and her participation in Jérome Savary's ''Opéra de Casbah'' she brought out another album called Blonde dans la casbah. She had been planning this album for some time. Biyouna took her time, carefully choosing a Franco-Algerian repertoire which explored both cultures. She lives with her husband and four children in a suburb of Algiers.

Discography

*2001: '' Raid Zone'' *2007: '' Blonde dans la Casbah''

Singles

*"Pamela" (2001) *"Les yeux noirs" (2002) *"In her eyes" (2002) *"Tu es ma vie" (2002) *"Maoudlik" (2003) *"Taali" (2006) *" Une Blonde Platine dans la Casbah " (2007) *"Demain tu te maries" (2007) *"Merci pour tout (c'que j'n'ai pas)" (2007) *"El Bareh" (2008) *"Tsaabli ouetmili" (2008)

Filmography

Films

Television

Theater

References

External links

BiyounaDelice PalomaBiyouna, une artiste en libertéPortrait Africulture
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biyouna 1952 births Living people Algerian film actresses Musicians from Algiers 21st-century Algerian actresses Algerian television actresses Algerian stage actresses 20th-century Algerian actresses 20th-century Algerian women singers 21st-century Algerian women singers