Barbara Kanam
| Barbara Kanam | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Barbara Kanam |
| Also known as | African Diva Barbara Kanam |
| Born | September 27, 1973 |
| Origin | Bukavu, Zaïre |
| Genres | Highlife, soukous, Congolese rumba |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, dancer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Kanam Music |
| Associated acts | Awilo Longomba, Devotion, Edgar Yonkeu, Fally Ipupa, Francky, Jacob Desvarieux, Kiki Touré, Kone Dodo, Olivier Kimanga |
| Website | Barbara Kanam Official Myspace Page |
Barbara Kanam (born September 27, 1973) is an award-winning Congolese singer-songwriter, music producer and actress.
Kanam was born in Bukavu, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
In 1991 (the year she became involved in music) Kanam earned a Brevet de Technicien Supérieur ("Advanced Specialist") degree in international business. She started to sing with and write music for an orchestra band called Devotion but also engaged in formal musical study. Kanam developed her vocal technique at the prestigious Psalmody Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, and concurrently received guitar lessons. In 1994, after thirteen months of music lessons, Kanam created 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 resumed her studies in international business.
In 1998, Kanam released her first album, Mokili, with producer Kone Dodo, which popularized her in the African music genre, and earned her a Kora Award 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 fiancé 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.
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