Moona
Encyclopedia
Moona is a West African female rapper. Known for her amazing flow, sharp and poetic lyrics as well as for her active involvement with the youth, Moona is an active member of AURA
in which she represents her native Benin
. Besides, Moona is the only female rapper to have been selected by Africa Unsigned among artists of the continent to receive support for their next production.
in 2004 in Benin. Her musical adventure begins in her family circle with a father, musician but also patron of the art who welcomes at the family house in Cotonou
famous artists such as the band Kassav, Rochero and Milia Bell, Aïcha Koné or Edou Bokandé. Influenced in early childhood by musical styles such as ragtime
, rhythm & blues
, soul
, African variety and world music, Moona finally chooses Hip Hop as the privileged expression of her musical creativity.
Trained as a lawyer, it is not without difficulty, but with a lot of determination that Moona manages to combine studies and music. In 2005, she moves to Dakar
for her studies, and there she meets with Guisse Pene and Didier Awadi
who encourage her to pursue her musical journey. Since then, Moona has been demonstrating her huge potential by participating in several festivals such as Hip Hop Awards, Banlieue Rythme, Afrikakeur, Fête de la Musique, 72H Hip Hop or Waga Hip Hop
and by featuring on different mixtapes and albums such as those of Boudor (Négrissim’) or Biba (Bideew bou bess). She finally releases her debut album in 2009, “A Fleur 2 Mo’” in which she offers a musical ambiance that spans from hip hop to modern music such as coupé-décalé, dancehall
, and other backgrounds sonorous softer and muffled.
In 2006, she joins the West African hip hop collective AURA (United Artists for African Rap)
as the Benin representative. In AURA’s musical comedy, Moona interprets the role of a young girl working as a street fruit vendor. Besides, reiterating her engagement towards the youth, Moona participates in 2009 in the project “Answers Solutions Knowledge
”, a campaign of awareness against the HIV/AIDS initiated by AIESEC Senegal in collaboration with UNESCO-BREDA and for which she becomes a trainer. Moona is one of the most promising example of how Hip Hop and social engagement and activism remains intrinsically intertwined in the mind of its African artists.
AURA
AURA commonly refers to:* Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy* Atlas of UTR Regulatory Activity, the Atlas of UTR Regulatory Activity...
in which she represents her native 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...
. Besides, Moona is the only female rapper to have been selected by Africa Unsigned among artists of the continent to receive support for their next production.
Biography
Born on October, 10th 1983, Moona, of her real name Awa Mounaya Yanni, is a young Beninese artist of Senegalese origins, who makes her first steps in Hip HopHip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
in 2004 in Benin. Her musical adventure begins in her family circle with a father, musician but also patron of the art who welcomes at the family house 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:...
famous artists such as the band Kassav, Rochero and Milia Bell, Aïcha Koné or Edou Bokandé. Influenced in early childhood by musical styles such as ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
, rhythm & blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, African variety and world music, Moona finally chooses Hip Hop as the privileged expression of her musical creativity.
Trained as a lawyer, it is not without difficulty, but with a lot of determination that Moona manages to combine studies and music. In 2005, she moves to Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
for her studies, and there she meets with Guisse Pene and Didier Awadi
Didier Awadi
Didier Awadi is a Senegalese rapper and the most visible figure of Francophone West African Hip Hop. As a founding member of Positive Black Soul with Duggy Tee, Awadi toured around the world contributing to the international popularity of Hip Hop Galsen. Awadi works as a solo artist accompanied by...
who encourage her to pursue her musical journey. Since then, Moona has been demonstrating her huge potential by participating in several festivals such as Hip Hop Awards, Banlieue Rythme, Afrikakeur, Fête de la Musique, 72H Hip Hop or Waga Hip Hop
Waga Hip Hop Festival
Waga Hip Hop is one of the major international hip hop festivals taking place in West Africa. Each year, around early and mid-October, Ouagadougou thus welcomes international artists and media to attend this festival of urban cultures....
and by featuring on different mixtapes and albums such as those of Boudor (Négrissim’) or Biba (Bideew bou bess). She finally releases her debut album in 2009, “A Fleur 2 Mo’” in which she offers a musical ambiance that spans from hip hop to modern music such as coupé-décalé, dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
, and other backgrounds sonorous softer and muffled.
In 2006, she joins the West African hip hop collective AURA (United Artists for African Rap)
AURA (United Artists for African Rap)
AURA is a collective of 17 hip hop artists coming from ten different countries in West Africa and who are committed to use their voices and music for Africa’s development...
as the Benin representative. In AURA’s musical comedy, Moona interprets the role of a young girl working as a street fruit vendor. Besides, reiterating her engagement towards the youth, Moona participates in 2009 in the project “Answers Solutions Knowledge
Answers Solutions Knowledge
Answers Solutions Knowledge in Morocco is one of the four departments of the Moroccan branch of Association des étudiants en sciences économiques et commerciales...
”, a campaign of awareness against the HIV/AIDS initiated by AIESEC Senegal in collaboration with UNESCO-BREDA and for which she becomes a trainer. Moona is one of the most promising example of how Hip Hop and social engagement and activism remains intrinsically intertwined in the mind of its African artists.
External links
- Moona on Myspace http://www.myspace.com/moonamusik
- Star Africa website http://www.starafrica.com/en/music/artists/article/moona-15167.html