فاطمة الزحافة

Fatima Zehafa was a Moroccan aita singer. She was born in 1938 in Settat, and started her career at an early age by joining small rural music bands at 13 years old. She started to become known in the Chaouia region as soon as 1955 with the return from exile of the late King Mohammed V and the various popular festivals that were organized at that time ; however her fame is to be attributed, in addition to the numerous songs engraved during her career, to the great success obtained by the song "Zaouia" released in 1965. The Zaouia (a Muslim religious building) to which the song refers is that of the town of Sidi Smaïl located not far from Settat. Though suffering from a serious disability, the singer did not spare and has been constantly performing during her life at celebrations, weddings and official events in her hometown. As has often happened to other Moroccan artists she died on 29 October 2000, in her home town, in a state of extreme poverty in complete denial of the great artistic contribution she has given to her country.