Biography
Si Himan (In Hebrew: סי היימן) is an Israeli singer, composer, and actress.
Born on Kibbutz Beit Alfa as Smadar Himan, she is the daughter of the acclaimed composer Nachum (Nachche) Himan and holistic therapist Dalia Himan. During her childhood, she lived in France and later in London, where she faced antisemitism and physical abuse from classmates. As a result, she decided to change her first name to “Si,” a family nickname, once she was old enough.
At age 12, she returned to Israel on her own and rejoined Kibbutz Beit Alfa, where she lived as a “child from outside.” At 13, she wrote and composed her first song, Ten Lanu Lichyot (“Let Us Live”), which won first place in a school music competition.
Himan rose to prominence in the israeli rock scene during the 80s and became one of its defining voices. With a raw and emotional performance style, she stood out in a male-dominated genre and became a trailblazer for women in Israeli rock. Her breakthrough came with the hit Tel Aviv 89, which captured the restless spirit of urban youth and remains a cult classic. Her rendition of Kmo Tzemach Bar (“Like a Wild Plant”), originally written by her father, is considered one of her most iconic performances, blending personal legacy with national sentiment.
Over the years, she released several acclaimed albums, collaborated with leading Israeli musicians, and appeared in film, theater, and television. Her music often reflects themes of personal struggle, independence, love, and social identity. Despite career highs and personal challenges, Himan continues to perform and record, and is recognized today as a seminal figure in Israeli music history—respected both for her artistry and her uncompromising authenticity.
Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. Feel free to contribute!
All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
