Habiba Msika, also spelled Messika (حبيبة مسيكة), (born 1903 Testour – February 21, 1930 Tunis), was a Tunisian singer, dancer and actress. Born Marguerite Msika, she was the niece of singer Leila Sfez.
Habiba Msika
Born
Marguerite Messika
1903
Hafsiya jewish quarter of Tunis
Died
February 21, 1930
Alfred Durand-Claye street, Tunis
Nationality
Tunisian
Other names
حبيبة مسيكة
Occupation
actor
She quickly climbed the ladder of fame under the pseudonym Habiba ("beloved"). Prototype of the free, and master of her destiny, charismatic singer and daring actress, adored by the Tunisian population, Msika was a social phenomenon in her time. The film The Fire Dance by Salma Baccar talks about her career.[1]
She was born in the Jewish quarter of Tunis in a poor family. Her parents, Daida and Maïha, worked in the wire trade.
She learned to read and write in the school of the Israelite Alliance, which she left after seven years, through the help of her aunt, singing lessons, music theory and classical Arabic with the famous composer Khemaïs Tarnane and Egyptian tenor Hassan Bannan.
She married her cousin Victor Chetboun but their union lasted a short time.
Her first recital was held at the palace of La Marsa, where she met her lover: the Minister de la Plume.
Career
In 1920 her career took off; she became a sex symbol and initiated the phenomenon of "soldiers of the night", the nickname for her fans, mostly young dandies of Tunisia.[2]
It was at this time that she went with her lover to Paris, where through him she met Pablo Picasso and Coco Chanel.
In March 1925, she interpreted Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at the Ben Kamla theatre.
Death
On the morning of February 20, 1930, her former lover Eliyahu Mimouni entered her apartment in Alfred Durand-Claye street in Tunis, and set her on fire. Badly burned, she died the next day, followed soon after by Mimouni. Msika is buried in the cemetery of Borgel in Tunis.[3]
Habiba Msika's tomb in the cemetery of Borgel
References
^Hillauer, Rebecca (2005-01-01). Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers. American Univ in Cairo Press. ISBN9789774249433.
^African Cinema: Postcolonial and Feminist Readings. Africa World Press. 1999. ISBN9780865436978.
^Jacobs, Daniel; Morris, Peter (2001-01-01). The Rough Guide to Tunisia. Rough Guides. ISBN9781858287485.
Sources
Jeanne Faivre d'Arcier (1998), Belfond (ed.), Habiba Messika: la brûlure du péché (in French), Paris
Ahmed Hamrouni (2007), L'Univers du livre (ed.), Habiba Msika: artiste accomplie (in French), Tunis
Silver, Chris (24 April 2018), "The Life and Death of North Africa's First Superstar", History Today{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
External links
10 taboo Arabic songs: Habiba Msika
January 07, 2023
habiba, msika, also, spelled, messika, حبيبة, مسيكة, born, 1903, testour, february, 1930, tunis, tunisian, singer, dancer, actress, born, marguerite, msika, niece, singer, leila, sfez, bornmarguerite, messika1903hafsiya, jewish, quarter, tunisdiedfebruary, 193. Habiba Msika also spelled Messika حبيبة مسيكة born 1903 Testour February 21 1930 Tunis was a Tunisian singer dancer and actress Born Marguerite Msika she was the niece of singer Leila Sfez Habiba MsikaBornMarguerite Messika1903Hafsiya jewish quarter of TunisDiedFebruary 21 1930Alfred Durand Claye street TunisNationalityTunisianOther namesحبيبة مسيكةOccupationactorShe quickly climbed the ladder of fame under the pseudonym Habiba beloved Prototype of the free and master of her destiny charismatic singer and daring actress adored by the Tunisian population Msika was a social phenomenon in her time The film The Fire Dance by Salma Baccar talks about her career 1 Contents 1 Life 1 1 Youth 1 2 Career 1 3 Death 2 References 3 Sources 4 External linksLife EditYouth Edit She was born in the Jewish quarter of Tunis in a poor family Her parents Daida and Maiha worked in the wire trade She learned to read and write in the school of the Israelite Alliance which she left after seven years through the help of her aunt singing lessons music theory and classical Arabic with the famous composer Khemais Tarnane and Egyptian tenor Hassan Bannan She married her cousin Victor Chetboun but their union lasted a short time Her first recital was held at the palace of La Marsa where she met her lover the Minister de la Plume Career Edit In 1920 her career took off she became a sex symbol and initiated the phenomenon of soldiers of the night the nickname for her fans mostly young dandies of Tunisia 2 It was at this time that she went with her lover to Paris where through him she met Pablo Picasso and Coco Chanel In March 1925 she interpreted Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at the Ben Kamla theatre Death Edit On the morning of February 20 1930 her former lover Eliyahu Mimouni entered her apartment in Alfred Durand Claye street in Tunis and set her on fire Badly burned she died the next day followed soon after by Mimouni Msika is buried in the cemetery of Borgel in Tunis 3 Habiba Msika s tomb in the cemetery of BorgelReferences Edit Hillauer Rebecca 2005 01 01 Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers American Univ in Cairo Press ISBN 9789774249433 African Cinema Postcolonial and Feminist Readings Africa World Press 1999 ISBN 9780865436978 Jacobs Daniel Morris Peter 2001 01 01 The Rough Guide to Tunisia Rough Guides ISBN 9781858287485 Sources EditJeanne Faivre d Arcier 1998 Belfond ed Habiba Messika la brulure du peche in French Paris Ahmed Hamrouni 2007 L Univers du livre ed Habiba Msika artiste accomplie in French Tunis Silver Chris 24 April 2018 The Life and Death of North Africa s First Superstar History Today a href Template Citation html title Template Citation citation a CS1 maint date and year link External links Edit10 taboo Arabic songs Habiba Msika Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Habiba Msika amp oldid 1119992502, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
