Manal (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manal
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Manal in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
منال
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| Birth name | Manal Benchlikha منال بنشليخة |
| Also known as | Manal BK |
| Born | 18 September 1993 Marrakesh, Morocco |
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| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2015–present |
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Manal Benchlikha (Arabic: منال بنشليخة), who you might know as just Manal, is an amazing pop singer and songwriter from Morocco. She was born on September 18, 1993. Manal is known for her unique blend of pop, R&B, and rap music.
Contents
Manal's Music Journey
Early Life and Discovering Music
Manal grew up in the beautiful city of Marrakesh, Morocco. Even though she studied business and finance, her real dream was always to be a music artist. She started by posting cover songs on YouTube. This is how she was discovered by Hamza Ait Khali, who worked with a famous Moroccan producer named DJ Van.
Rising to Stardom
Manal's first song was called Denia. It was a big hit! This song even won her the 'Best Female Artist in Northern Africa' award at the Africa Music Awards in 2015. After this, she started working with a new manager, Tarik Azzougarh, also known as Cilvaringz. He's famous for producing a very rare and expensive album for the group Wu-Tang Clan.
Manal then released another popular song, Koulchi Ban. This song was loved by fans and caught the attention of Sony Music Middle East. In 2017, Manal made history by becoming one of the first Moroccan artists to sign with a major record label in the Arab world. This was a huge step for her career!
Big Hits and Collaborations
In 2018, Manal released her third single, Taj (which means Crown). The music video for Taj was super popular and quickly got millions of views. It became one of the most-watched Arabic rap songs by a female artist!
After Taj, Manal continued to release exciting music. She sang Nah with the Moroccan rap group Shayfeen. Then, she had one of her biggest songs ever, Slay, which was a collaboration with the popular artist ElGrandeToto.
In 2019, Manal signed a special deal with RCA Records, which is part of Sony Music France. This helped her music reach even more people around the world. She also works with Universal Music Publishing for her song rights.
Beyond Music: Fashion and World Stage
In May 2021, Manal released her first full album, titled 360. It included the hit song "Niya." During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, when concerts were not happening, Manal and her husband, Moncef Guessous, started their own cool streetwear clothing brand called Bari & Soch.
Manal's talent continued to be recognized. In November 2021, she won the 'Best Female Artist in Northern Africa' award at the All Africa Music Awards for the second time!
In May 2022, Manal performed her song "3ARI" for COLORS, a famous music platform. Later that year, in October 2022, she was chosen for a very special project. She sang "Light The Sky," a song for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar! She collaborated with other amazing artists like RedOne, Balqees, Rahma Riad, and Nora Fatehi.
Manal's Albums and Songs
Manal has released several successful albums and singles throughout her career.
Albums
| Title | Released | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 360 | 21 May 2021 | Bench & Guess Entertainment / Sony Music France |
| Arabian Heartbreak | 20 Sept 2024 | Bench & Guess Entertainment / Sony Music France |
Singles
Here are some of Manal's popular singles:
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Dua" | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "Koulchi Ban" | 2017 | |
| "Taj" | 2018 | |
| "Nah" | ||
| "Slay" | ||
| "Pas Le Choix" | 2019 | |
| "NTA" | ||
| "360" | 2020 | 360 |
| "Niya" | ||
| "Lyali" | 2021 | Non-album singles |
| "3iytou Lbouliss" | 360 | |
| "Call Me" |
