El General

Hamada Ben Amor (; born 7 October 1989), known by the stage name El General (; also written El Général), is a Tunisian rapper whose protest songs became widely associated with the early phase of the Tunisian revolution of 2010–2011.

His song "Rais Lebled" has been described by international media as an "anthem" or "battle hymn" of the uprising that led to the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. During the protests he was detained by Tunisian authorities, prompting international press-freedom and news coverage.

Early life Ben Amor grew up in Sfax in a middle-class family. His mother ran a bookshop and his father worked as a hospital medic.

Career 2007–2010: Underground releases and censorship

Ben Amor has been making mainly political rap songs since 2007. The songs were previously kept underground by the strict censorship of the autocratic regime of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. On December 24, 2010, two days after his second famous protest song "Tunisia Our Country" was released on YouTube and Facebook and one week after the protests in Tunisia began, he was arrested by Tunisian police. Three days later, Ben Amor was released, after being forced to sign a statement to no longer make any political songs. Following public backlash, Ben Amor was released after several days.

After the overthrow of Ben Ali, his songs enjoyed enormous popularity in Tunisia, particularly "Rais Lebled" which became known as the anthem of the revolution and gained him international recognition.