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 | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Baya Bouzar |
| Born | 13 September 1952 |
| Origin | Belcourt, Algiers, Algeria |
| Genres | Pop, Pop rock, Raï |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, comedian |
| Instrument(s) | vocals guitar goblet drum |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | Warner |
Early life
editHaving 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
editThat 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
editMeanwhile, 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
edit- 2001: Raid Zone
- 2007: Blonde dans la Casbah
Singles
edit- "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
edit
Films
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | La Celestina | Célestine | |
| 2012 | Biyouna ! | Biyouna | in Théâtre Marigny |
References
edit- ^ "بيونة الجزائرية الحرّة". الأخبار (in Arabic). Retrieved 5 February 2018.