Cheb Mami Biography: Girlfriend, Age, Parents, Net Worth, Career, Songs, Parents

Mohamed Khelifati, professionally known as Cheb Mami, is an Algerian singer, songwriter, and raï musician who has played a pivotal role in globalizing the raï genre through innovative blends of traditional Algerian sounds with pop, rock, and flamenco influences.

He rose from street performances and local weddings to international acclaim, most notably with his 1999 collaboration with Sting on the hit “Desert Rose,” which topped charts worldwide and introduced raï to Western audiences.

Profile

• Full Name: Mohamed Khelifati
• Stage Name: Cheb Mami
• Born: 11, July 1966
• Age: 59 years old
• Birthplace: Saïda, Algeria
• Nationality: Algerian
• Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Raï Musician
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. Khelifati, Mrs. Khelifati
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Unknown
• Girlfriend: Isabelle Simon (ex)
• Children: 1
• Relationship: Not married
• Net Worth: $6 million

Early Life and Education

Mohamed Khelifati was born on July 11, 1966, in the Graba-el-Wed quarter of Saïda, Algeria, to Mr. and Mrs. Khelifati.

Raised in a large family of nine children and facing financial hardship, he worked from an early age to support his household.

By 12, he was already singing at street corners and weddings in Saïda, displaying natural musical talent.

Influenced by his Algerian roots and Sunni Muslim background, he gravitated toward raï, a genre tied to marginalized communities of western Algeria, while teaching himself vocals and accordion rather than pursuing formal training.

Career

Mohamed Khelifati kicked off his career in 1982 at age 16 by finishing as runner-up in the Algerian TV talent show Alhane wa chabab, where his rendition of a classic Oran raï song earned a standing ovation despite government bias against the genre.

Local producers quickly signed him, leading to cassette releases under the name Cheb Mami—meaning “young Mami”—and performances at weddings that sold hundreds of thousands of copies underground.

By 1985, he headlined the inaugural Oran Raï Festival alongside Cheb Khaled, marking raï’s official recognition in Algeria and launching his trajectory from regional sensation to international innovator.

Mami’s move to Paris in 1985 opened doors to fusion experimentation, blending raï with hip-hop, rock, and flamenco on albums like Prince of Raï (1995) and Meli Meli (1999), which topped French charts and earned him a Grammy nomination.

His global breakthrough arrived with the “Desert Rose” duet alongside Sting in 1999, propelling the track to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and exposing raï to North American fans through TV appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Today Show.

He also collaborated with artists like Kylie Minogue and Janet Jackson, while his 2001 album Dellali won the BBC Radio 3 World Music Award, cementing his role in bridging Eastern and Western sounds.

Cheb Mami’s influence endures through timeless hits like “Viens viens” and “Parisien du nord,” alongside recent features such as the 2023 track “Wahran Casa” with Soolking and Reda Taliani, which revives his crossover appeal.

Legal hurdles, including a 2010 conviction for attempted forced abortion leading to a five-year sentence (serving 23 months before conditional release in 2011), temporarily stalled his momentum, yet he rebounded with a 2015 plagiarism fine resolved and ongoing releases.

His discography, spanning over 20 albums, continues to inspire raï’s evolution, with live performances and production work keeping him central to Algerian music’s global narrative.

Social Media

• Facebook Handle: @officiel.MAMI
• YouTube Handle: @ChebMami

Personal Life

Mohamed Khelifati maintains a private stance on his romantic history, with no confirmed spouse or current partners publicly known.

He dated French photographer Isabelle Simon in the mid-2000s, a relationship marred by controversy when he was convicted in 2010 of drugging and attempting to force an abortion on her during a 2005 trip to Algeria; she gave birth to their daughter, whom Mami has acknowledged biologically but declined to legally recognize.

His lifestyle centers on music production and occasional travels between Paris and Algeria, where he focuses on artistic recovery and family privacy amid past scandals.

Discography

• Douny el blaady (1989)
• Khalouni nbki wahdi (1990)
• Saïda (1994)
• Prince of Raï (1995)
• Meli Meli (1999)
• Dellali (2001)
• Du Sud au Nord (2004)
• Layali (2006)
• El ghzali (2013)
• Son of Raï (2022)

Net Worth

Mohamed Khelifati, known as Cheb Mami, has an estimated net worth of $6 million.

His fortune primarily stems from decades of album sales, including multi-platinum releases like Meli Meli and international hits such as “Desert Rose,” alongside lucrative collaborations with Sting and others that boosted royalties and touring revenue.