Baya Bouzar (Arabic: باية بوزار; born September 13, 1952), known by the stage name Biyouna (بيونة), is an Algerian singer, dancer, and actress born in Belcourt, now known as Belouizdad, Algiers, Algeria.[1]

Biyouna
Background information
Birth nameBaya Bouzar
Born (1952-09-13) 13 September 1952 (age 72)
OriginBelcourt, Algiers, Algeria
GenresPop, Pop rock, Raï
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, comedian
Instrument(s)vocals
guitar
goblet drum
Years active1973–present
LabelsWarner

Early life

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

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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 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 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

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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

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Singles

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  • "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

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Biyouna in the 2011 Cannes Film Festival

Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 Leila et les autres
1979 Le Chat
1999 Le Harem de madame Osmane Meriem
2001 La voisine
2003 Viva Laldjérie Papicha
2004 Beur blanc rouge Mother of Wassila
2005 Rue des figuiers Fatima
2007 Delice Paloma Madame Aldjeria/Zineb Agha
2008 Garçon manqué Nana
2009 Aïcha Biyouna
2010 Bacon on the Side Houria
2010 Holiday Eva Lopez
2011 Aïcha 2 Biyouna
2011 The Source The Old Gun
2011 Beur sur la ville Khalid's mother
2011 Aïcha 3 Biyouna
2012 Aïcha 4 Biyouna
2013 Cheba Louisa
2013 Mohamed Dubois
2013 Les Reines du ring
2014 Amour sur place ou à emporter : le film !
2018 Le Flic de Belleville Zohra

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 La Grande Maison Fatma
2003 Grand plongeoir, Le Herself
2003 Nass Mlah City 32 episodes
2004 Nass Mlah City 2 32 episodes
2006 Nass Mlah City 3 55 episodes
2007 La Commune Hanifa Houbeyche first season
2007 On n'est pas couché 1 episode
2009 Nessma TV (Zorroh) Zohra
2010 One person show Biyouna 30 episodes
2012 La Baie d'Alger

Theater

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 La Celestina Célestine
2012 Biyouna ! Biyouna in Théâtre Marigny

References

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  1. ^ "بيونة الجزائرية الحرّة". الأخبار (in Arabic). Retrieved 5 February 2018.
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