Don Kikas
Encyclopedia
Don Kikas, born Emílio Camilo de Carvalho, is an Angola
n singer from the city of Sumbe
in the southern Angolan province of Cuanza Sul
.
where he started to take a liking on music and dreaming of becoming a singer. At the age of 8, he was assisted by his mom in writing his first song. He would attend a few singing contests and as he walked out victorious, his passion for singing grew.
, he began singing at local nightclubs and discothèques until he was invited in 1994, to record his debut album, “Sexy Baby” which was released in 1995. In 1997, Don Kikas released his second album, Pura Sedução which was silver in Portugal. That same year, the album’s Esperança Moribunda song received the “Music of the Year” award granted by the Rádio Nacional de Angola
(national radio station). By this time, invitations were extended for Kikas to perform at international level. His third album, Xeque Mate, released in December 1999, produced a totally-renewed Don Kikas as it included songs recorded in three different countries and featured foreign musicians as well. Xeque Mate achieved gold sales and received Angola
’s Album of the Year, Voice of the Year and Kizomba of the Year awards. In October 2003, Kikas released his Raio X album, a record that failed to enjoy as much commercial success as the previous ones but still managed to steer him into virgin markets.
2005 saw Kikas in a new career phase as he managed to round up high profile musicians to record his latest Viagem album, a double album in which the listener can enjoy such a genre diversity ranging from kizomba
and zouk
(CD1) to the more traditional kazukuta and kilapanga (CD2). Kikas does it again, as he rounded up several musicians and friends to record an album whose chore lies in motherland Angola
. Viagem features singers such as Cape Verde
’s Tito Paris
and Johnny Ramos as well as countryfellows Bonga
and Deusa
.
Throughout his career, Don Kikas has been performing worldwide, working with several locally and internationally renowned musicians while song-writing for himself and others, always carrying Angola
’s name deep in his heart and soul.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n singer from the city of Sumbe
Sumbe
Sumbe is a city located in west central Angola. It is the administrative capital of Cuanza Sul Province. Its population counts about 26,000....
in the southern Angolan province of Cuanza Sul
Cuanza Sul
Cuanza Sul is a province of Angola. It has an area of 55,660 km² and a population of approximately 600,001.Sumbe is the capital of the province. Municipalities in this province include Porto Amboim, Seles, Conda, Amboim, Quilenda, Libolo, Mussende, Quibala, Waku-Kungo, Cassongue and Ebo.Cuanza Sul...
.
Early life
In his early days as a child his parents moved to BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where he started to take a liking on music and dreaming of becoming a singer. At the age of 8, he was assisted by his mom in writing his first song. He would attend a few singing contests and as he walked out victorious, his passion for singing grew.
Musical career
As he turned 18, now in PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, he began singing at local nightclubs and discothèques until he was invited in 1994, to record his debut album, “Sexy Baby” which was released in 1995. In 1997, Don Kikas released his second album, Pura Sedução which was silver in Portugal. That same year, the album’s Esperança Moribunda song received the “Music of the Year” award granted by the Rádio Nacional de Angola
Rádio Nacional de Angola
Rádio Nacional de Angola is a national radio station in Angola. It is based in the capital of Luanda. The station broadcasts in Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, and major local languages and is operated by the government of Angola.-External links:*...
(national radio station). By this time, invitations were extended for Kikas to perform at international level. His third album, Xeque Mate, released in December 1999, produced a totally-renewed Don Kikas as it included songs recorded in three different countries and featured foreign musicians as well. Xeque Mate achieved gold sales and received Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
’s Album of the Year, Voice of the Year and Kizomba of the Year awards. In October 2003, Kikas released his Raio X album, a record that failed to enjoy as much commercial success as the previous ones but still managed to steer him into virgin markets.
2005 saw Kikas in a new career phase as he managed to round up high profile musicians to record his latest Viagem album, a double album in which the listener can enjoy such a genre diversity ranging from kizomba
Kizomba
Kizomba is one of the most popular genres of dance and music created in Angola. Derived directly from Zouk, sung generally in Portuguese, it is a genre of music with a romantic flow mixed with African rhythm. The kizomba dancing style is also known to be very sensual.- Origin :Kizomba was developed...
and zouk
Zouk
Zouk is a style of rhythmic music originating from the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe & Martinique. Zouk means "party" or "festival" in the local Antillean Creole of French, although the word originally referred to, and is still used to refer to, a popular dance, based on the Polish dance, the...
(CD1) to the more traditional kazukuta and kilapanga (CD2). Kikas does it again, as he rounded up several musicians and friends to record an album whose chore lies in motherland Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. Viagem features singers such as Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
’s Tito Paris
Tito Paris
Tito Paris, is a singer and musician . He has a long career behind him and is among the most popular musicians from Cape Verde successfully blending the sound of Cape Verdean traditional mornas, coladeiras and funanas with the moderns sounds of Portugal and the rest of the world...
and Johnny Ramos as well as countryfellows Bonga
Bonga
Bonga is a town in southwestern Ethiopia. Located southwest of Jimma in the Keficho Shekicho Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region upon a hill in the upper Barta valley, it has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1,714 meters above sea level...
and Deusa
Deusa
Deusa is a village development committee in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3835 people living in 747 individual households.-External links:*...
.
Throughout his career, Don Kikas has been performing worldwide, working with several locally and internationally renowned musicians while song-writing for himself and others, always carrying Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
’s name deep in his heart and soul.
Albums
- Sexy Baby (1995)
- Pura Sedução (1997)
- Xeque Mate (1999)
- Raio X (2003)
- Viagem (double) (2006)
- Regresso a Base (2011)