The Death of Habiba Msika: Actress and Singer Burned Alive

Often called the “first star of Tunis,” Marguerite “Habiba” Msika was born in 1903 in the Jewish quarter of Tunis to a poor Jewish family. Msika was raised by her aunt Leila Sfez, a singer, and received training in Maalouf (classical Andalusian music), oud, piano, and voice. Msika rose to fame across the Maghreb and Middle East because of her beautiful voice and unique talent. However, her life of luxury was brought to an untimely end by a jealous suitor.

Msika’s career began as a wedding singer, and at the end of WWI, her career began to take off. In 1921, she began acting at the al-Shahāma Theater in Tunis. She adopted the stage name Habiba, which means “beloved” in Arabic. Msika often played male roles because they usually had more stage time than female roles.

But Msika was more than just an actress and singer. At the time, Tunisia was under French rule, and she became known for her nationalist and pro-independence tendencies. During one performance, she wrapped herself in a Tunisian flag and sang pro-independence slogans, leading to her arrest by French authorities.

In addition to her acting success, Msika released nearly 100 phonograph records between 1924 and 1930. Her songs were the best-selling records in the Maghreb at the time. However, France soon banned her records because they “stirred nationalist feelings.” Habiba Msika broke numerous barriers for female entertainers, including demanding a high salary and royalties for her recordings and having many lovers—Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike. A group of male fans called themselves Soldiers of the Night and vowed to protect Msika. Thousands loved her.

In the early morning of February 20, 1930, after singing at an engagement party, Msika returned to her apartment. Shortly afterward, Eliaou Mimouni, a man who had pursued Msika for years, broke into her apartment. There, he poured oil on her bed, lit her on fire, and held her down as she burned alive. It is assumed that Mimouni found out about Msika’s recent engagement with another man and fell into a jealous rage. Msika succumbed to her injuries the following day.

Tens of thousands of people attended Habiba Msika’s funeral at the Borgel cemetery. A week later, a film depicting her funeral was shown in Tunis cinemas. Tunisian and Algerian singers recorded songs of grief over her murder, and in 1994, a film called The Dance of Fire follows Msika through the last years of her short life.