Zaho facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zaho
Background information
Birth name	Zehira Darabid
Born	(1980-05-10) May 10, 1980 (age 45) Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
Genres	R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Parlophone

Zehira Darabid (Arabic: زهيرة درابيد), known by her stage name Zaho, is a talented R&B singer from Algeria and Canada. She was born on May 10, 1980. Zaho is famous for her unique voice and songs that often share her life experiences.

Biography

Zehira Darabid was born on May 10, 1980, in Bab Ezzouar, a town near Algiers, the capital of Algeria. When she was 18, her family moved to Montréal, Canada. Her father worked as an executive, and her mother was a mathematics professor. Zaho also has a brother and a sister.

When Zaho was 11, her home country, Algeria, faced a difficult period. Many people she knew, like her cousins and teachers, disappeared. Her parents also had a close call during a market bombing. These tough times made her dream of a different life, far from the conflict. As a teenager, she wanted to be an astronaut or a pilot. But she soon realized this was hard in a country facing civil war.

So, Zaho started applying to universities abroad. On December 31, 1998, her family moved to Montreal, Canada. They were part of a special program that brought computer experts to Canada. Her parents were educated, but they didn't have much money. Zaho was surprised by life in Montreal after growing up in a war-torn country. She later sang about her journey and feelings in the song "Kif'n'dir" from her first album, Dima. She shared how she sometimes felt scared, remembering a time she missed a bus that exploded nearby. For a long time, she felt bad about leaving some family behind in Algeria. But years later, she reconnected with her homeland and visited her loved ones.

After settling in Canada, Zaho continued her studies. She had finished high school at 16. She went to the Université de Montréal to study computer engineering. Even though she was a top student, she really wanted to make music. Her parents found it hard to understand her strong passion for music.

Career

Zaho started learning to play the guitar when she was seven years old. She quickly learned many songs by the French singer Francis Cabrel. In 1999, after moving to Montreal, she discovered the professional music world. She met famous French artists like Idir, Tunisiano, and Soprano.

In 2008, Zaho released her first album, titled Dima. This word means Always in Arabic.

Zaho is also a talented songwriter. She wrote the song "Tout ce temps" for Idir. When Idir heard it, he liked it so much that he asked her to sing it with him.

In 2008, Zaho represented France at the MTV EMA's (Europe Music Awards). She won the award for Best European Artist. She is very well known in France and French-speaking Canada, as well as in other places.

Discography

Albums

Mixtapes

• Zaho: La Mixtape (2007)

Singles

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts.

Other charting songs

Featured in

*Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts.

Also featured in

• "Basta" by La Fouine, in "Bourré au son" (2005)
• "Halili" by Cheb Mami, in "Layali" (2006)
• "Un point c tout" by Sefyu, in "Qui suis-je?" (with Mina and Sana) (2006)
• "Lune de miel" by Don Choa, in "Jungle de béton" (2007)
• "Tout ce temps" by Idir, in "La France des couleurs" (2007)
• "La France des couleurs" by Idir, dans "La France des couleurs"
• "Citoyen du monde" by Tunisiano, in "Le Regard des gens" (2008)
• "Je m'écris" by Kery James, in "À l'ombre du show business" (with also Grand Corps Malade) (2008)
• "Quand ils vont partir" by Kamelancien, in "Le Frisson de la vérité"
• "T'est chelou", remix by "C'est chelou", by D.Dy in "T'aimes ou t'aimes pas" (2008)
• "Hold My Hand" (French Version), by Sean Paul (2010)
• "Heartless" by Justin Nozuka (2010)
• "Fais doucement" by Rohff, in "La cuenta" (2010)
• "Elle venait du ciel" by La Fouine in "La fouine vs laouni" (2011)
• "Indélébile" -Christophe Willem ft. Zaho (2011)
• "Ma Meilleure" – La Fouine feat Zaho (2013)
• "Shooting Star" – Tara McDonald feat Zaho (2013)
• "Du rêve" - TK feat Zaho (2020)

Awards and nominations

• MTV Europe Music Awards 2008: Best French Artist
• NRJ Music Awards 2009: French-speaking New Artist of the Year
• NRJ Music Awards 2011: French-speaking Group/Duo/Troupe of the Year feat Justin Nozuka
• Prix de La Création 2011: International Song 2011 feat Sean Paul
• Trace Urban Music Award 2013: Best Female Artist
• Trace Urban Music Awards 2013: Best Collaboration feat La Fouine

See also

In Spanish: Zaho para niños