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Célébrités du Cameroun

Musique

Kaïssa (Sylvie Doumbé) Moulongo

Singer

Kaissa
Date de Naissance:
N/A
Lieu de Naissance:
Cameroon

When an original voice rises up, music lovers are moved to listen. Now Kaïssa (real name Sylvie Doumbé Moulongo) is the one motivating a fast-growing audience, connecting through soaring vocal talents and the irresistible African-inspired rhythms of her songs.

A child of the culturally rich Republic of Cameroon, Kaïssa’s passion was fuelled by the romance of Paris, where her family relocated to while she was still young. Kaissa’s vocal ability began to turn heads in studios throughout the City of Lights, and when the opportunity to join French multi-media artist CharlElie Couture’s European tour arose, Kaïssa stepped on the bus and never looked back.

Kaïssa’s voice is a unique instrument – an electric mix of character and clarity, strength and fragility, total control and unbridled joy. Besides captivating audiences, her peers took notice as well, winning her a steady stream of work around the world with luminary artists such as: Manu Dibango, Papa Wemba, Salif Keita, Jean-Michel Jarre, Cesaria Evora, Martha Wash, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, and David Byrne, to name a few.

Now New York-based, Kaïssa has surrounded herself with a group of world-class musicians that are building on her vision. Her debut album, LOOKING THERE was released in March 2004 by Sony Music South Africa and received rave reviews for its highly engaging vocals and pulsating African/Western rhythmic backdrops.

Behind the beauty, however, there is always a message, with Kaissa’s poignant lyrics talking frankly about the human condition, speaking out against war and injustice, and calling gloriously to her native Cameroon for its love of life and the human spirit. Other heartfelt topics include the joy of playing music, and her connection to relatives both living and passed on, while the album’s title speaks to Kaïssa’s own personal way of looking for others, or “beyond”.

Success breeds success, and LOOKING THERE has led Kaïssa to the next level, with featured slots on four Putumayo compilations including GLOBAL SOUL, WORLD REGGAE, WOMEN OF AFRICA and WOMEN OF THE WORLD-ACOUSTIC. Her riveting performance at the XVI Africa Festival in Würzburg Germany in May, 2004 led critics to dub her “one of the future great voices of Africa". The screen is also squarely in Kaissa’s sights, with multiple television appearances helping to expose her to an even wider audience.

Paul Simon's retrospective residency at the BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC in April 2008 exposed Kaïssa to such an audience, she has been chosen as one of the guest performers (among David Byrne, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Luciana Souza and Vusi Mahlasela) to sing several of Paul Simon songs comprising UNDER THE AFRICAN SKIES concerts, which celebrated GRACELAND and THE RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS albums.

During the same time, Kaïssa's new track LONON appeared on a new, children-oriented Putumayo World Music compilation AFRICAN DREAMLAND. Since September 2008 Kaïssa has been on the road with SONGS OF DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO World Tour.

With a new album in the works, this unforgettable artist continues to expand her sphere. Rest assured, Kaïssa’s voice is original, and it is being heard.