Born in 1974 in Dzaoudzi on the island of Petite-Terre, part of Mayotte, Chamsidini Momed became known to the general public under his pseudonym M'Toro Chamou (M'Toro symbolizes the chestnut, the runaway slave). While he practiced music and rap in a teenage group called M'Tsapéré Power, his arrival in France pushed Chamsidini Momed towards a solo career. Armed with a guitar and the influence of the mgodro, a typical Mayotte rhythm and dance, M'Toro Chamou met up with a number of compatriot musicians in 1996: Baco and Mikidache. He then managed to record his first compositions, forming the album Kaza N'goma in 1998. His approach evolved from rap to Afro-folk, reggae, rock and Mahoran rhythms, culminating in success a year later with his second album, Retour aux sources , and a hit single: "Bombo" (1999). The guitars and high-pitched voice of the Nantes-based singer, who declaims his lyrics in Simahoré (the Mauritanian language), win over the public. M'Toro Chamou toured Europe and the island, meeting the manager of IAM and Jacques Higelin. These contacts helped him to popularize his productions, fueled by the albums M'Lango (2002) and Bwé Foro (2004). Incorporating the ills that plague Mayotte and the injustices present in society into his songwriting, M'Toro Chamou has become a spokesman for the people. This discourse is reflected on new albums, including Changer in 2009, before M'Toro Chamou joins the Tsenga collective, which highlights the musical traditions of Mayotte and its great personalities. Moving to Reunion Island in 2012, the singer was named best Mahoran artist at the Voix de l'océan Indien awards in 2015, and presented Punk Islands (2016) the following year. Returning to songwriting in 2019 with his album Sika Mila, M'Toro Chamou is one of the leading figures of 21st-century Mahoran culture.
