Artist Profiles: Natu Camara

Natu Camara was born in Ivory Coast and grew up in Guinea. She got together with three friends to form female R&B/hip-hop band, the Ideal Black Girls. Their first album, Guinea mou monèra (“It’s not a shame to be a woman”) went on to sell in the millions and was nominated for Best Album 2002 in Guinea.

Their second album, recorded in Senegal, was also popular, but it initiated a new stage in Natu’s career.

Natu traveled to New York to spend time with her husband, only to undergo a tragedy: not long after she arrived, he sadly passed away from cancer, leaving her abruptly alone.

During this period of mourning, Natu started playing her wedding gift guitar and writing. In 2013, when an unusual bird came to her window in 2013, she took it as sign that it was time to begin afresh. She quickly learned English, formed a band, and started to sing and write a completely different form of music. Although she had been playing hip hop music her entire young life, she dropped the imitations of hip hop and sang inspired by great African and American artists such as ‪Ali Farka Toure, ‪Mory Kanté, Fela Kuti, Baaba Maal, Tina Turner and ‪Nina Simone.

Natu Camara leads a multinational band in New York. She released an album titled Dimedi (which means Child in her native language, Sousous). Natu sings in five languages. On Dimedi she combines afro-rock, pop, and soul.

Natu is a committed activist for the empowerment and education of girls and women in West Africa. She spends her time between Conakry in Guinea and New York.

Discography:

Dimedi (Natuwenta Productions, 2018)

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.