Samira Said

The recorded working language is Arabic. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are Arabic music, music of Egypt, music of Morocco and Khaliji. Umm Kulthum and Shadia are recorded as an influence. Residence is recorded at Cairo. Distinctions recorded are Order of the Throne.

• Name — Samira Said • Native Name — سميرة سعيد • Birth Name — Samira Abdelrazak Bensaïd • Born — 10 January 1958 • Birthplace — Rabat, Morocco • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • record producer • actress • entrepreneur • Years Active — 1968–present • Spouse — * • Mustafa Naboulsy • Children — 1

• Illustration — Said on a postcard for the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 Samira Said was born in 1958 in Rabat, in Morocco, to a father from Rabat and a mother from Fez. She began singing at the age of nine, and was discovered on the music program, Mawaheb, broadcast on Moroccan TV. She then moved to Egypt where her fame around the Arab world began. She has dual nationality in Morocco and Egypt, her resident home, as she moved to Cairo in 1977. All her albums are in Egyptian Arabic, but she has also recorded some songs in Moroccan Arabic, such as "Kifash Tlakina" ("How we Met"), "Fayetli sheftek shi marra" ("I've seen you once"), "Sarkouh" ("They Stole Him"), and "Al Behhara" ("Mariners"). Her singles included "Maghlouba" ("Beaten") and "Wa'ady" ("My Love"). In 1980 she represented her native Morocco in the Eurovision Song Contest singing a hit song in Netherlands at that time called Bitaqat Hub, placing 18th out of the 19 contestants. Said has recorded many Arabic hits that were ranked highly in Egypt, such as "Ben Lef" ("The Circle of Life"), "Sayidati Sadati" (Ladies and Gentlemen"), "Malich 3inwan" ("Ready When You Are") and "Akher Hawa" ("Last Love"). She worked with the Egyptian composer Mohamed El Mougi, and sang and acted in the film Saaktob Ismak Ala Arrimal ("I Will Write Your Name in the Sand"), which included her singing "Yadamiiti Haddi" ("Tears, Fall from My Eyes"). Other recordings include "Lilet El Ouns" ("Magnificent Get-Together"), "Ech Gab Li Gab" ("A Cut about the Rest"), "Amrak Aagib" ("I Don't Get You"), and "Menghir Sabab" ("For No Reason"). In 2000, she released the song "Lilah Habeebee", ("One Night, My Love"), the album title track, which went on to win for best video in the Arab world in 2001 at the Cairo Arabic Music Festival. At the 15th annual World Music Awards in 2003, Said won a World Music Award based on worldwide sales figures for that year. She won the BBC award for world music for the best artist in the Middle East with her album Youm Wara Youm. She has won more than 40 awards.

• Illustration — Said performing on the Star Academy Arab World TV show; Beirut, Lebanon; 8 July 2011 Halina Hopkins said that "One reason Said’s music is popular is because of the tonal beauty of her voice against the background instrumentation. The centrality of her voice represents her personal influence in her work.

Said was married to Egyptian musician Hany Mehanna from 1988 to 1994. She then married businessman Mustafa Naboulsy, with whom she had her only son, Shady. In multiple interviews, Said has expressed her desire to return to Morocco and live near her family and loved ones.

Said spearheaded concerts to draw people together after the 2006 riots in immigrant suburbs across France and solidarize between faiths.

Samira Said was recorded at birth as سميرة عبد الرزاق بنسعيد. The authorities additionally record the headings Samira Bensaïd and Samira Abdel Razak Bensaïd. Her recorded language was Arabic. She married Hany Mehanna.