In the African music industry, women tend not to be as successful as their male counter parts. So since yesterday was international women's day, I thought I'd share with you my top 5 female influential African music artists.
#5: Perola (Angola)
I love Perola's elegance beauty, voice and music. And she definitely for me carries the flag for female musicians in Angola.
#4: The late Brenda Fassie (South Africa)
My mum was and still is a BRenda fan. Regardless of her age and petite little frame, this woman had energy that not even I could handle. A great lost, but nevertheless she left us with some good music.
#3: Cesaria Évora (Cape Verde)
The grammy nominated cape verdian barefoot queen who we tragerdly lost at the end of last year. She Will never be forgotten.
#2: Sara Tavares (Portugal/Cape Verde)
I love Sara Tavares with all my heart. Her music, though simplistic, gets the message across. Beautiful.
And drum roll please....
#1: my fave artist, Nneka (Nigeria)
This should be of no surprise. What more can I say?! I LOVE NNEKA!
Haiti born, Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Katia Cadet earned her Grammy recognition for co-writing “911” performed by Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige.
Katia sings in French, English, Creole, Portuguese and Italian over multi genres such as Zouk, Dance Hall, Kompa, Soca, Roots and Reggae, all with a strong fusion of R&B.
A Mes Pieds is definitely the track I love most. Such a beautiful song accompanied with a beautiful soft voice.
I can't help it, I love Zouk!
Have a listen to a few of her tracks! you will like...
My heart always warms to Ghana, be it during the world cup, or through music. Mainly because my closet friend who I've practically grown up with, baptised me into her Ghanaian family.
Here's three of my favorite Ghana hits!
r2bees ft nana boroo & sarkodie agyeeei
Still one of my favorite tracks from Ghana, Atumpan - the thing.
Atumpan uses alter egos in his song to express different reggae and dancehall styles and subject matters. Love it!
Last but not least, I love me some Azonto!
Gasmilla - Abodato
O amor é tudo,
Amor é nada
Amor é asas,
Amor é Momento,
Amor é sede,
Amor é agua,
Amor é mundo,
Amor é alimento,
Amor é corpo,
Amor é alma,
Amor é magia,
Amor é do vento... eternamente.
As of recently, I've started listening to Komba again.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a big Buraka fan and cannot get enough of them.
But this time round, the track on repeat is "Voodoo" featuring one of my favorite Lusophone Afro soul artists Sara Tavares.
I Randomly stumbled upon DJ Branquinho's soundcloud the other day and immediately was hooked on his afro house track Play The Marimba.
A feel good chilled track.
Once again... The evolving genre of AfroHouse in Angola.
Ines
