Barbara Kanam
Encyclopedia
Barbara Kanam is a globally recognized and award winning Congolese
singer-songwriter. She is also a music producer and an actress. Kanam's work has been called a standard for female African musicians, and is known among contemporary urban African music for the quality of her voice.
. She then began singing and writing music for an orchestra band called Devotion. She perfected her vocal technique at the prestigious Psalmody Academy in Johannesburg
, South Africa, and took guitar lessons at the same time. In 1994, after thirteen months of lessons, Kanam went on to create a musical arrangement for her first tour, the "Acoustic One Woman Show", which toured Central Africa
.
In 1995, Kanam settled in Abidjan
, Ivory Coast where she experimented musically by joining a religious choir. She later joined a church ensemble called the Grace Choir in Cocody
, Ivory Coast
, as a regular singer. In 1997, Kanam decided to continue her studies in International Trade
.
nomination.
In 2003 she released her second album, Teti, which gained international recognition. She then began touring across Africa and Europe, and earned the following awards:
In 2005, with producer Kiki Touré and producer-arranger Edgar Yonkeu, Kanam released a cover of the song Bibi Madeleine L'argent (Translation: 'money attracts money'), which also featured her fiance Awilo Longomba
. This song was a huge success in Africa, the Caribbean
and Europe - especially France. In 2005, she gained recognition at the Black Music Awards in Cotonou
, Benin
for best female video.
Her career has included numerous collaborations with artists such as Jacob Desvarieux as well as Edgar Yonkeu, with whom she produced African Dance Company in 2006. In the same year Kanam accepted an invitation to appear on Fally Ipupa's album Droit Chemin on a song entitled 100% Love. Subsequently, Ipupa contributed to a song on Kanam's album entitled Noir et Blanc.
). The album was also a critical success, with journalists and broadcasters like Claudy Siar and Yves Robert Brazza Kambala declaring it one of the best releases in 2009. Kanam became a "standard-bearer" for female African musicians.
Later that year, the singer was recognized at the United Nations headquarters at the Sebroko Hotel in the Abidjan
, Ivory Coast. Kanam delivered a message of peace over the United Nations radio broadcast airways.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
singer-songwriter. She is also a music producer and an actress. Kanam's work has been called a standard for female African musicians, and is known among contemporary urban African music for the quality of her voice.
Early life and work
In 1991, Kanam earned a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur degree (or Advanced Specialist degree) in International TradeInternational trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
. She then began singing and writing music for an orchestra band called Devotion. She perfected her vocal technique at the prestigious Psalmody Academy in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa, and took guitar lessons at the same time. In 1994, after thirteen months of lessons, Kanam went on to create a musical arrangement for her first tour, the "Acoustic One Woman Show", which toured Central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
.
In 1995, Kanam settled in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, Ivory Coast where she experimented musically by joining a religious choir. She later joined a church ensemble called the Grace Choir in Cocody
Cocody
Cocody, is an upmarket suburb of Abidjan, marked by its abundance of mansions. Cocody is where most of the wealthy business people, ambassadors, and other affluent people live...
, Ivory Coast
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, as a regular singer. In 1997, Kanam decided to continue her studies in International Trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
.
The Recording Artist
In 1998, Kanam released her first album, Mokili, with producer Kone Dodo. This made her popular in the African music genre, and earned her a Kora AwardKora Awards
The Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
nomination.
In 2003 she released her second album, Teti, which gained international recognition. She then began touring across Africa and Europe, and earned the following awards:
-
-
- 2003 Kora AwardKora AwardsThe Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
| Best Actress in Johannesburg - 2004 Kunde D'Or Award | Best female artist of Central Africa in OuagadougouOuagadougouOuagadougou is the capital of Burkina Faso and the administrative, communications, cultural and economic center of the nation. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of 1,475,223 . The city's name is often shortened to Ouaga. The inhabitants are called ouagalais...
- 2004 Tamani D'Or Award | Best actress of Central Africa in BamakoBamakoBamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
- 2003 Kora Award
-
In 2005, with producer Kiki Touré and producer-arranger Edgar Yonkeu, Kanam released a cover of the song Bibi Madeleine L'argent (Translation: 'money attracts money'), which also featured her fiance Awilo Longomba
Awilo Longomba
Awilo Longomba is a Congolese musician who was a drummer in Viva la Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Generation and Loketo. In 1995, he finally quit drumming for singing and released his first album Moto Pamba with help from Shimita, Ballou Canta, Dindo Yogo, Dally Kimoko, Sam Mangwana, Syran Mbenza and...
. This song was a huge success in Africa, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and Europe - especially France. In 2005, she gained recognition at the Black Music Awards in Cotonou
Cotonou
-Demographics:*1979: 320,348 *1992: 536,827 *2002: 665,100 *2005: 690,584 The main languages spoken in Cotonou include the Fon language, Aja language, Yoruba language and French.-Transport:...
, Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
for best female video.
Her career has included numerous collaborations with artists such as Jacob Desvarieux as well as Edgar Yonkeu, with whom she produced African Dance Company in 2006. In the same year Kanam accepted an invitation to appear on Fally Ipupa's album Droit Chemin on a song entitled 100% Love. Subsequently, Ipupa contributed to a song on Kanam's album entitled Noir et Blanc.
Kanam Music
On June 25, 2009, Kanam and Touré released her third album under her own music label, Kanam Music, entitled Karibu (which means Welcome in SwahiliSwahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
). The album was also a critical success, with journalists and broadcasters like Claudy Siar and Yves Robert Brazza Kambala declaring it one of the best releases in 2009. Kanam became a "standard-bearer" for female African musicians.
Later that year, the singer was recognized at the United Nations headquarters at the Sebroko Hotel in the Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, Ivory Coast. Kanam delivered a message of peace over the United Nations radio broadcast airways.
Discography
- Mokili (1999)
- Mokili Eko Leka
- Karibu (2009)
- Dada
- Djarabi
- Cheri Mupenzi