Biyouna

Baya Bouzar (; 13 September 1952 – 25 November 2025), known by the stage name Biyouna , was an Algerian singer, dancer and actress.

Early life Biyouna was born on 13 September 1952 in the Belcourt neighbourhood of Algiers. 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 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 (2007), 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 Meanwhile, she continued 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.

Personal life and death Biyouna lived with her husband and four children in a suburb of Algiers. She died on 25 November 2025, at the age of 73.

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