Mohamed Khelifati, better known by his stage name Cheb Mami, is an Algerian musician and singer-songwriter.
10 Facts About Cheb Mami
2.
Cheb Mami was born in Graba-el-wed, a populous quarter of Saida, Algeria.
3.
In 1985, Cheb Mami moved to Paris and discovered Rai music.
4.
Cheb Mami later performed military service for two years in Algeria while working as an entertainer on army bases.
5.
Cheb Mami went on to tour the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Scandinavia, and England.
6.
Cheb Mami's music is a blend of Mediterranean and Western influences, including Turkish, Flamenco, and Greek music, as well as Latin music.
7.
Cheb Mami's voice is tinged with Andalusian accents, and his music is an amalgamation of traditional and modern styles of singing.
8.
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.
9.
Cheb Mami was accused of attempting to force an abortion on his then-girlfriend, magazine photographer Isabelle Simon.
10.
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.