Khadja Nin
Encyclopedia
Khadja Nin is a Burundian
singer and musician. She was born in Burundi as the youngest of a family of eight. Her father was a diplomat
. She studied music at an early age like most of her brothers and sisters. With her exceptional singing voice, at the age of 7 she became one of the lead vocalists in the Bujumbura
choir and performed in the local cathedral.
Khadja left Burundi for Zaire
in 1975 and got married in 1978. In 1980 she emigrated to Belgium
with her two-year-old son. In 1985 she met musician Nicolas Fiszman, who helped her get a contract with BMG
. Her second album
, a 1994 release entitled Ya Pili, was critically acclaimed. Her breakthrough, however, came in 1996 with her widely popular album Sambolera, which was sung in Swahili
, Kirundi
, and French
. In 1997 she performed the song Sailing
in a duet with Montserrat Caballé
on the album Friends For Life
.
Khadja Nin successfully used a blend between African rhythms and modern pop to create her own unique brand of music. One of her most popular songs is Sina Mali, Sina Deni, a translated cover version of Stevie Wonder
's song Free.
Burundian
Burundian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Burundi* A person from Burundi, or of Burundian descent. For information about the Burundian people, see Demographics of Burundi and Culture of Burundi...
singer and musician. She was born in Burundi as the youngest of a family of eight. Her father was a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. She studied music at an early age like most of her brothers and sisters. With her exceptional singing voice, at the age of 7 she became one of the lead vocalists in the Bujumbura
Bujumbura
-Education:The University of Burundi is located in Bujumbura.Hope Africa University is located in BujumburaUniversité du Lac Tanganyika is located in Bujumbura-External links:**...
choir and performed in the local cathedral.
Khadja left Burundi for Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
in 1975 and got married in 1978. In 1980 she emigrated to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
with her two-year-old son. In 1985 she met musician Nicolas Fiszman, who helped her get a contract with BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
. Her second album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, a 1994 release entitled Ya Pili, was critically acclaimed. Her breakthrough, however, came in 1996 with her widely popular album Sambolera, which was sung in Swahili
Swahili 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...
, Kirundi
Kirundi
Kirundi, also known as Rundi, is a dialect of the Rwanda-Rundi language spoken by some 8.7 million people in Burundi and adjacent parts of Tanzania and Congo-Kinshasa, as well as in Uganda. It is the official language of Burundi...
, and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. In 1997 she performed the song Sailing
Sailing (Rod Stewart song)
"Sailing" is a song written by Gavin Sutherland and recorded by The Sutherland Bros. Band . Released in June 1972, it can be found on their album 'Lifeboat' released in the same year....
in a duet with Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé is a Spanish operatic soprano. Although she sang a wide variety of roles, she is best known as an exponent of the bel canto repertoire, notably the works of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi....
on the album Friends For Life
Friends For Life (Montserrat Caballé album)
Friends for Life is the title of a 1997 album by Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballé.-Track listing:# Bohemian Rhapsody, with Bruce Dickinson [5:50]# March With Me, with Vangelis [3:49]...
.
Khadja Nin successfully used a blend between African rhythms and modern pop to create her own unique brand of music. One of her most popular songs is Sina Mali, Sina Deni, a translated cover version of Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's song Free.
Discography
- 1992 – Khadja Nin
- 1994 – Ya Pili ...
- 1996 – Sambolera
- 1998 – Ya ...