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...