Maalesh and his four musicians hail from the archipelago of the Comores Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Born Othman Mohamed Elyas in Moroni of Comorian father and Ugandan mother, he has been playing music since the age of twelve. Maalesh is blessed with a soulful voice and also plays electric-acoustic guitar and percussion.

His music resonates with a blend of African, Asian and Arab influences. Using many languages including Comorian, French, Arabic and Swahili, many of his songs plea for tolerance, freedom and respect for cultural diversity.

Maalesh stole the show at the 1995 MASA festival (African Market of the Performing Arts) and was the winner of the Découverte RFI Afrique prize the same year. The group went on to win the 2001 Grand Prix International at the Festival Visa Francophone in Villefranche de Rouergue in France. They have toured extensively throughout Europe and the Indian Ocean.

In 2007 Maalesh was awarded the PRIX MUSIQUES DE L'OCEAN INDIEN Award as best music group from the Indian Ocean.