Nayanka Bell
Encyclopedia
Nayanka Bell is an Ivorian singer who has released several albums, the earliest in 1984.
she sings in English
. Her debut album, Amio, was released in 1984, with styles ranging from funk and disco to ballads. A second album in 1986, If You Came To Go, showed a greater Antillean
influence. Bell is considered one of the top female Ivorian singers.
In 2000, she recorded a version of Serge Gainsbourg
's "Je t'aime... moi non plus
", with Congolese singer Koffi Olomidé
and performed it in front of 17,000 spectators at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
.
In April 2009, Bell was critically injured in a road accident, prompting rumours to spread that she had died. She in fact survived the accident although her injuries were serious and required several operations.
Biography
Bell's early work was inspired by the Francophone Caribbean, and although her native tongue is FrenchFrench 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...
she sings in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Her debut album, Amio, was released in 1984, with styles ranging from funk and disco to ballads. A second album in 1986, If You Came To Go, showed a greater Antillean
Antilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
influence. Bell is considered one of the top female Ivorian singers.
In 2000, she recorded a version of Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
's "Je t'aime... moi non plus
Je t'aime... moi non plus
"Je t'aime… moi non plus" is a French duet written by Serge Gainsbourg. It was written for and sung with Brigitte Bardot in 1967, but that version was not released until 1986. In 1969, Gainsbourg recorded a version with his lover, Jane Birkin. It reached number one in the UK, but was banned in...
", with Congolese singer Koffi Olomidé
Koffi Olomide
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, also known as Koffi Olomide , is a DR Congolese soukous singer, dancer, producer, and composer. He is also known by a multitude of other names and aliases.-Background:...
and performed it in front of 17,000 spectators at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
Opened in 1984, Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, often abbreviated as POPB or Bercy, is an indoor sports arena on boulevard de Bercy located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris...
.
In April 2009, Bell was critically injured in a road accident, prompting rumours to spread that she had died. She in fact survived the accident although her injuries were serious and required several operations.
Discography
- Just a Boogie (1983) SIIS
- Amio (1984) Celluloid
- Djama (1984) Celluloid
- If You Came to Go (1986) Celluloid
- Visa (1994) SLP Editions
- Brin de Folie (2001)