Aziza Jalal

Aziza Jalal
عزيزة جلال
Aziza Jalal at the Menara Gardens in Marrakech, wearing a stunning traditional Moroccan caftan (2026)
Born
Aziza Jalal

(1958-12-15) 15 December 1958
Meknès, Morocco
Other nameAziza Galal
OccupationsActress, singer, record producer
Years active1975 - 1985 – Return 2019 - present [1]
Musical career
GenresClassical Arabic, Egyptian pop.
LabelsMazzika
Alam El Phan
Sout El-Hob Record Label
Sawt El Phan

Aziza Jalal (Arabic: عزيزة جلال, historically transliterated as Aziza Galal;[2] born 15 December 1958) is a Moroccan Arab pop singer and actress. For details regarding regional spelling variations and registry indexing, see § Name and transliteration.

Career

Aziza Jalal was born in Meknes, Morocco. She later moved to Saudi Arabia and became a Saudi national.[3] Before fame and marriage, the singer dedicated her life to the study of music. In her youth, she studied music in Meknes before participating in a singing competition called Mawahib (Talents) supervised by Moroccan singer Abdelnabi Al Jirari in 1975. During the competition, the singer performed songs of well-known Egyptian and other Arab singers, such as Shadia and Ismahan.[4]

In her singing career that lasted from 1975 to 1985, Jalal became a popular singer across the Arab world before deciding to give up the artistic scene for a life of piety with her Saudi husband. She was known as King Hassan II of Morocco's favourite singer, often appeared on Moroccan television and at state occasions singing nationalistic, pan-Arab, and Islamic-themed music.[5]

The singer had made a name for herself as one of the top Arab singers in the 70s and 80s. Some time laater, her vocals made headlines again as she astonished the world by singing a few verses from her song during a television show. Jalal’s song Mestaniak was covered by Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram. The song’s lyrics come from the repertoire of the great Egyptian musician Mohammed Abdel Wahab. The composer of the song was the renowned musician Baligh Hamdi.[6]

The song Mestaniak remained on top of the charts at many Arab TV and radio stations for years.[7] It was a commercial success,[8] and sold millions of copies.[9][10][11]

Aziza Jalal had several other famous songs, including Min Hakek T’atebny (You have the right to blame me,) and Houa El Hob La'baa (Love is a Game.)

Arabic pop singer Aziza Jalal attending a wedding event


Retired at 26

In 1985, Aziza Jalal chose to leave the stage. She married the Saudi businessman Ali bin Butti al-Ghamdi who gave her the right to decide whether or not she wanted to retire. She didn't think much into it and decided to leave. She stated that it wasn't a decision she regrets.[12] The proposal suddenly ended her career in the music industry, leaving her fans disappointed, knowing that she could have added even more hits to her already impressive list of songs.

Arabic pop singer Aziza Jalal performing at Winter at Tantora Festival

Returned to stage 2019

May 22, 2019 marked a surprise for the Arab World.[13] It was the day that Moroccans and fans across the Arab world had the chance to meet again with the prominent Moroccan arabic singer, Aziza Jalal, who was out of the spotlight for 34 years. The singer made her first appearance since 1985 on a television show aired by MBC television channel. The TV show is called “Likaa mina sifr” or “meeting from scratch.”

In the show, the singer also wowed audiences across the world when she performed her legendary song “Mestanyak,” translated as “I am waiting for you” in English, with the same passion and maybe a little bit more.

The interview with Aziza Jalal was also posted by the television show on YouTube. The interview generated more than 1 million views and thousand of comments.


After a 34-year hiatus, Jalal returned to the stage on Thursday 26 December 2019 at Winter at Tantora.[14] Her performance started at 10 p.m.[15] Aziza Jalal, who had kept a low profile for more than 30 years, was well-received by the crowd.[16] She thanked her fans “for coming to see me after a long hiatus. I’ve never been away from you, you have always been in my heart. I'm back today because of your love for me. I decided to come back to participate in these joyful events in our country.” [17]

During the concert,[18] Aziza Jalal performed “Love is not a game” composed by Muhammad Al-Mouji and written by Mamoun Al-Shinawai, and "Waiting for you (Mestaniyak) which the audience enjoyed immensely. She also performed many of her classics. Her message to the youth was: “Hear us out because we are the past, and the past needs the present and the future, hear us out so that we hear you out.”.[19]

Name and transliteration

Aziza Jalal (Arabic: عزيزة جلال) has also been credited under the Latin spelling Aziza Galal. The two spellings refer to the same Moroccan singer; the difference reflects the transliteration and pronunciation of her Arabic name into the Latin alphabet. The spelling Jalal is widely used in Moroccan, French-language and international references, while Galal appears prominently in Egyptian music publications, recordings and catalogues.Joseph, Suad; Najmabadi, Afsaneh (2022). Routledge Handbook on Women in the Middle East. Routledge. Retrieved 9 August 2026.Arabies. Vol. 25–30. p. 83. Retrieved 9 August 2026.

The spelling Aziza Jalal is used by a number of mainstream and cultural sources. The Moroccan magazine TelQuel, for example, referred to her as "Aziza Jalal" in its coverage of her return to public life."Le retour insoupçonné de Aziza Jalal". TelQuel. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2026. English-language reference material likewise uses Aziza Jalal, including the Routledge Handbook on Women in the Middle East, which identifies her as a Moroccan singer.

The spelling Aziza Galal is also historically documented in Arabic and Egyptian music publications. In Arabies, issues 25–30, page 83, a passage discussing women singers in the Egyptian music scene refers to Aziza Galal by that spelling, describing her success and distinctive voice.Arabies. Vol. 25–30. p. 83. Retrieved 9 August 2026. This provides a published historical example of the Galal spelling alongside the more widely used Jalal form.

The coexistence of Jalal and Galal is consistent with regional differences in the pronunciation and Latin representation of the Arabic letter ج (jīm). In Egyptian Arabic, ج is commonly pronounced as a voiced velar stop /ɡ/, whereas Moroccan Arabic and other varieties of Arabic have different pronunciations. Linguistic research on Egyptian Arabic documents the historical development and persistence of the /ɡ/ pronunciation in Cairo and Lower Egypt.Woidich, Manfred; Zack, Liesbeth (2009). "The g/ğ-Question in Egyptian Arabic Revisited". Estudios de Dialectología Árabe. 4: 33–51.Woidich, Manfred (2006). Das Kairenisch-Arabische: Eine Grammatik.Badawi, El-Said; Hinds, Martin (1986). A Dictionary of Egyptian Arabic: Arabic-English.

In this linguistic context, Galal can reflect the Egyptian pronunciation of the Arabic name جلال, with the initial consonant pronounced /ɡ/, while Jalal represents a Latin spelling commonly encountered in Moroccan and broader international contexts. The two forms therefore correspond to the same Arabic name, عزيزة جلال, rather than indicating two different artistic identities.

The coexistence of the two spellings can also be observed in music catalogues and recordings. Spotify's catalogue includes releases associated with Aziza Jalal in which the artist is identified as Aziza Jalal, while other catalogue entries use Aziza Galal."Aziza Jalal – Spotify artist profile". Spotify. Retrieved 9 August 2026."Aziza Galal – Spotify artist profile". Spotify. Retrieved 9 August 2026.

The spelling Aziza Galal is likewise preserved in recordings associated with Aziza Jalal's musical repertoire from the 1970s and 1980s. For example, the Mazzika catalogue presents "Aziza Galal – Rouhi Feek" together with the Arabic name عزيزة جلال, providing a direct example of the Latin spelling Galal appearing alongside the Arabic form of the singer's name."Aziza Galal – Rouhi Feek". Mazzika. Retrieved 9 August 2026.

The distinction is therefore one of Latin spelling and regional pronunciation rather than identity. Aziza Jalal remains the principal spelling used for the article title and in many Moroccan and international sources, while Aziza Galal remains a historically documented spelling found in Egyptian music publications, recordings and digital catalogues.

Discography

Studio albums

The album cover for Mestaniak. (Egyptian Arabic: مستنياك; also transliterated as Mestaniyak, Ana Fi Intizarak, or Waiting for you)
Songالأغاني
Halakti Ayouni Hna W Hnakحلقت عيوني هنا وهناك
Ahila Al Maghrebعاهل المغرب
Batala Al Qodssبطل القدس
Ya Laylo Toulياليـل طول
Al Aido Adaالعيد عاد
Annouro Mawsoloالنور موصول
Yorani Liarchikaيغن لعرشك
Min Koli Dakit Albمن كل دقة قلب
Sayidi Ya Sid Sadatiسيدي ياسيد ساداتي
Gazayil Follahغزيل فله
Ya Shoueياشوق هزني هوى الشوق
Ella Aweel Matkabilnaإلا أول ماتقابلنا
Howa El Hobi Liabaهو الحب لعبه
Waltakaynaوالتقينا
Zayi Mantaزي مانت
Minak Wi Eleekمنك واليك
Mestaniak[20]مستنياك
Min Haak Tiatibniمن حقك تعاتبني
Haramti El Hobحرمت الحب عليه
Rouhi Feekروحي فيك
Azzamzamiyaقصيدة الزمزمية
Mawlayمولاي
Ghali Ya Hassanغال ياحسن
Inta Omriإنت عمري
Arouh Liminأروح لمين
Al Atlalالأطلال
Layali El Onssليالي الأنس
Youmi El Massiraِمِن يِنسى يوم المسيرة
Al Maghreb Aghla Manarالمغرب أغلى منار
Official song of the Pan Arab Games 19851985 الأغنية الرسمية لإفتتاح الألعاب العربية
Man Anaمن أنا؟
Ash Salmanعاش سلمان

[21] [22]

RAFRAFA ELGALBرَفرَف القلب

[23] [24]

References

  1. ↑ Aziza Galal Arab singer Aziza Jalal returns to stage at Winter at Tantora Festival.
  2. ↑ Aziza Galal sur alrai.com, consulté le 15 août 2014.
  3. ↑ "عزيزة جلال.. العفوية والأسلوب النوذجي الفاخر!". جريدة الرياض (in Arabic). Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  4. ↑ Moroccan Icon Aziza Jalal Makes First Appearance 34 Years After Retiring.
  5. ↑ "Pop Culture in North Africa and the Middle East: Entertainment and Society around the World". publisher.abc-clio.com. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  6. ↑ Baligh Hamdi taught me to be humble. Aziza Jalal : Egypt welcomed me and I withdrew from the world of show business, but the public hasn't given up on the ssong "Mestaniak" - بليغ حمدي علمني التواضع.. عزيزة جلال: مصر احتضنتني واعتزلت الفن لكن الجمهور لم يعتزل أغنية مستنياك
  7. ↑ عزيزة جلال - أشهر من جلست على كرسي الانتظار
  8. ↑ عزيزة جلال: أنا اعتزلت وأغنيتي "مستنياك" مع بليغ حمدي باقية
  9. ↑ Aziza Galal - Mestaniyak Album Charts History|work=Top Charts
  10. ↑ Library, International and Area Studies. "LibGuides: Global Popular Culture: Middle East and North Africa Studies". guides.library.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
  11. ↑ "Alexandria Opera House Commemorates 115th Anniversary of Riad Al Sunbati | Sada Elbalad". see.news. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
  12. ↑ ""يحيى يعيش" وpasse-partout وManipulation". الأخبار (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2015-08-19. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  13. ↑ Likaa mina sifr with Aziza Jalal
  14. ↑ Arab singer Aziza Jalal returns to stage at Winter at Tantora
  15. ↑ Legendary singer Aziza Jalal dazzles crowds at Saudi Arabia’s Tantora festival
  16. ↑ Le retour insoupçonné de Aziza Jalal
  17. ↑ Le grand retour d'Aziza Jalal
  18. ↑ Aziza Jalal is back on stage
  19. ↑ "Aziza Jalal: le "come back" après plus de trente ans". Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  20. ↑ عزيزة جلال - أشهر من جلست على كرسي الانتظار
  21. ↑ : Ash Salman on Youtube
  22. ↑ Aعزيزة جلال تعود بحفل في العلا يعوض سنوات الغياب
  23. ↑ : RAFRAFA ELGALB on Spotify
  24. ↑ : RAFRAFA ELGALB on Youtube

Further reading

  • Pop Culture in North Africa and the Middle East: Entertainment and Society around the World, by Andrew Hammond, Series: Entertainment and Society around the World, 2017 - 319 pages. ISBN 1440833834, 978-1440833830
  • الرماد والموسيقى: حفريات في ذاكرة غنائية عربية, واصل، أحمد, دار الفرابي، 2009 - ISBN 9953713340, 9789953713342-
  • Alif bāʼ, Volume 10, by Karīm Irāqī, Publisher, Dār al-Jamāhīr lil-Ṣiḥāfah, 1977, Indiana University - Digitized on 16 July 2010
  • Iraqi Maqam voices of women: an analytical study of the critical technical experience of Iraqi women in singing Almqami, by Hussein Azami, by Hussein Azami, AIRP, 2005 - 316 pages. ISBN 9953366772, 9789953366777
  • Songs and stories, by Karīm Irāqī, Company Whites of Arts and Letters, Volume 1, Aghānī wa-ḥikāyātuhā, Karīm ʻIrāqī -
  • La condition de la femme au Maroc, by Abderrazak Moulay Rchid, Volume 33 of Collection de la Faculté des sciences juridiques, économiques et sociales: Série de langue française Issue 33 of Collection: Editions de la Faculté des sciences juridiques, économiques, et sociales de Rabat, 1985 - . (in French)
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