Manal (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manal
Manal in 2018
Background information
Native name	منال
Birth name	Manal Benchlikha منال بنشليخة
Also known as	Manal BK
Born	(1993-09-18) 18 September 1993 (age 31) Marrakesh, Morocco
Genres	Pop R&B rap
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2015–present
Labels	Bench & Guess Entertainment RCA Sony Music

Manal Benchlikha (Arabic: منال بنشليخة), known by her stage name Manal, is a talented singer and songwriter from Morocco. She was born on September 18, 1993. Since she started her music journey in 2015, Manal has become very famous. She has released two studio albums: 360 in 2021 and Arabian Heartbreak in 2024.

Manal has a huge number of fans. She has over 4.5 million followers on Instagram and 2 million subscribers on YouTube. About 300,000 people listen to her music on Spotify every month.

Manal's Early Life and Music Journey

Manal grew up in Marrakesh, a city in Morocco. She studied business and finance there. However, she always dreamed of becoming a musician. She started by posting cover songs on YouTube. This is how she was discovered by Hamza Ait Khali, who worked with Moroccan music producer DJ Van.

Starting Her Career

Manal first worked with DJ Van's music label, Magic Castle Entertainment. Her first song was called Denia. This song helped her win the 'Best Female Artist in Northern Africa' award at the Africa Music Awards in 2015.

After this, she changed her management. She began working with Tarik Azzougarh, also known as Cilvaringz. He is a famous producer who helped create the very expensive musical work, Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon A Time in Shaolin.

Gaining Popularity

Manal then released her song Koulchi Ban. This was the last song she made with DJ Van. Fans loved Koulchi Ban, and it caught the attention of Sony Music Middle East. In October 2017, Manal became one of the first Moroccan artists to sign with a major record label in the Arab world.

In February 2018, Manal released her third song, Taj (Crown). The music video for Taj was very popular and quickly got millions of views. It is one of the most-watched Arabic rap songs by a female artist. After Taj, Manal released Nah with the Moroccan rap group Shayfeen. Then she had one of her biggest hit songs, Slay, with ElGrandeToto.

In November 2019, Manal signed a deal with RCA Records. This is part of Sony Music France. She signed this deal through her own company, Bench & Guess Entertainment.

Currently, Manal works under a special agreement with Sony Music France. She also has a music publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing. Her management team includes Anissa Jalab, who also manages other famous artists like ElGrandeToto.

Recent Achievements

In May 2021, Manal released her first album, named 360. This album included the popular song "Niya".

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when she couldn't perform live, Manal started a streetwear clothing brand. She called it Bari & Soch and launched it with her husband, Moncef Guessous.

In November 2021, Manal won the 'Best Female Artist in Northern Africa' award again at the All Africa Music Awards. This was her second time winning this award.

In May 2022, Manal performed her song "3ARI" for COLORS. In October 2022, she was chosen to sing in Light The Sky. This was a special song for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. She sang with other artists like RedOne, Balqees, Rahma Riad, and Nora Fatehi.

Manal's Music

Albums

Manal has released two studio albums.

Singles

Here is a list of songs Manal has released as the main artist.

Other Songs and Collaborations

Manal has also appeared on other artists' songs or special projects.