A multi-talented artist, Mounira Mitchala has become an iconic figure in Chadian and African music. Through her inspiring melodies and deep social commitment, she has crafted a remarkable career where art serves as a powerful force for peace and development.
Mounira Khalil Alio, known artistically as Mounira Mitchala, was born on September 19, 1979, in N’Djaména, Chad. A singer, songwriter, and composer, she has established herself as one of Chad’s most influential musicians, using her voice as a tool for peace and cultural expression. Her journey has been shaped by resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to her country and continent.
Although she originally trained as a clerk, eventually becoming Head of Division for Documentation and the Library at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, music became her true calling in the late 1990s. Born during Chad’s civil war, Mounira Mitchala transformed her art into an instrument of reconciliation, striving to bridge divides among Chadians and Africans in general. A self-taught musician, she worked closely with renowned artists such as H’Sao, Tiken Jah Fakoly, and Ismaël Lo, refining her craft in composition and performance.
In 2005, under the guidance of French instructor Michelle Lhopitea, she embarked on a tour spanning Africa, France, and the United States as part of the African Divas collective led by Frédérique Galliano. This experience helped solidify her place in the music industry and culminated in the release of two major albums: “Talou Lena” in 2008, produced in France under Christian Mousset’s Marabi Production label, and “Indépendance” in 2012, produced by Lusafrika and Camel Zekri.
Her talent and advocacy have earned her several prestigious honors. In 2007, she won the RFI Discovery Prize, marking a turning point in her career. The same year, she was knighted by the Head of State as a member of the National Order of Civic Merit. In 2012, she was awarded Best Female Artist of Central Africa at the KORA Awards in Abidjan, and in 2014, she was recognized as Best Female Francophone Artist at the AFASA Awards in South Africa. Additionally, she was granted Carte Blanche by the SACEM in 2008 and 2009 and received the Visa for Creation from Culture France in 2008, enabling her to undergo vocal technique training at the Paris Studio of Varieties.
Beyond her music, she has been involved in film projects, acting in productions such as “Abouna,” “L’Essentiel,” and “Darat,” directed by acclaimed Chadian filmmaker Mahamat Saleh Haroun. Her humanitarian efforts include serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for the FAO in 2013 and Malaria No More in 2014. In 2019, she joined World Vision Chad, advocating for girls’ education and opposing child marriages.
In 2018, she attended the Music Salon in Rabat, Morocco, and the following year, she received the Visa for Creation from the French Institute in Paris. A documentary about her life, directed by Chadian filmmaker Bourma Hassan, was released in 2019 and won the Golden Silhouette Award at the Bafoussam Festival in Cameroon. Another documentary produced by Télé-Tchad in 2028 commemorated the 20th anniversary of her career, earning her a Recognition Award.
Mounira Mitchala has also collaborated with other female artists to create the powerful track “Le Cri du Silence,” produced by Geongal Prod under the leadership of Coumba Gawlo, alongside ten other Sahelian artists. Supported by the SWEDD program, the song raised awareness about gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, she composed the anthem for Chad’s Inclusive and Sovereign National Dialogue (DNIS), reinforcing her role as a cultural ambassador for unity and reconciliation.
In 2025, she successfully organized the second edition of the Giant Female Concert for Fraternity, Unity, and Peace (CGFFUP), held on March 14 in N’Djaména, preceded by a music video titled “Unity in Diversity.” Following the foundation of the Tchimema Cultural Association in 2011, she officially launched the Mounira Mitchala Foundation, dedicated to supporting underprivileged individuals, women, and children while promoting art and culture as instruments for peace and development.
Her impact extends beyond the musical sphere, as reflected in her recent recognition in Logone Inside Business Magazine’s March/April issue, listing her among the thirty most influential women shaping Chad’s future. With a career defined by artistic excellence and social commitment, Mounira Mitchala remains an inspirational figure, proving that music can be a force for unity, healing, and progress.